Italian media reaction: Antonelli owes his title to his talent, his car and not driving for Ferrari

Italy is celebrating its first Formula 1 drivers’ title since 1953. Across the country, 1 November became a day of celebration. Motorsport figures and the Italian media are vying to heap the highest praise on the Bologna-born driver. The congratulations were directed at Antonelli, but Scuderia Ferrari still came in for a slap in the face.

Twenty years and 68 days. That is the age of the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. “Antonelli, you’re a legend!” was how Corriere dello Sport hailed the achievement. Tuttosport agreed with that description: “Legendary Kimi Antonelli: Italy has a world champion — 73 years after Ascari!”

This is Italy’s fourth drivers’ title. The previous three came in the championship’s earliest years — Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural season in 1950, with Alberto Ascari taking the honours in 1952 and 1953. Farina triumphed in an Alfa Romeo, while Ascari won for Ferrari.

What would the Italian team give for a repeat of that success? Kimi Antonelli has admitted that his career could take him to Maranello in the future, but first he wants to repay his debt to Mercedes. The Silver Arrows nurtured him and gave him a chance when Maurizio Arrivabene turned him down for the driver academy because he was too young. That proved to be in his best interests, though; it is hard to imagine him racing for Ferrari today rather than serving an “apprenticeship” at one of the midfield teams.

Antonelli will probably consider a move to Ferrari, but the Italian team must offer him something it has lacked for almost 20 years: the ability to finish the job. In Mexico, too, we saw the Scuderia squander its opportunity and fail to capitalise on its pace advantage. It handed victory to Verstappen on a silver platter.

“Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1 world champion. He owes it to his talent, his car and the fact that he doesn’t race for Ferrari,” Italian daily La Gazetta dello Sport wrote in a dig at Ferrari — right on the front page of its Monday edition.

“Kimi Antonelli, the boy champion who captivated Formula 1 by staying true to himself,” wrote La Gazetta dello Sport. “He is like a breath of fresh air, a light in an era that now bears his name. Andrea Kimi Antonelli laughs and cries, charging forwards without stopping, as though there were still someone behind him he needed to escape. But there is no one behind him any more, because the 20-year-old Italian has become Formula 1 world champion.”

La Repubblica also paid tribute to Antonelli. “Antonelli makes history: Italy has a world champion again, 73 years after Ascari. An Italian boy. Part of him rooted in the region around the Via Emilia, part of him Generation Z.”

“Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the 2026 world champion. A historic moment for Italian motorsport, which last celebrated a world championship title way back in 1953,” added Il Messaggero.

Corriere della Sera: “Kimi Antonelli burst into tears after winning the Formula 1 world title. Tears stream down his face as he sits in his Mercedes, the car he drove with masterful skill despite being just 20 years old – becoming the youngest world champion in history.”