There are sports stories that smell like genuine fairy tales, written with the disconcerting naturalness of the most beautiful things. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s begins among the first laps on the karts with an overly large helmet that belonged to his father Marco and a large overall lent by a friend. Between the fettuccine with ragù prepared by mother Veronica and the cheering of his little sister Maggie, little Kimi was already in a hurry, winning 2 European titles in karting before starting an extraordinary escalation. His early entry into Formula 1 at just 18 years old with Mercedes, taking over from Lewis Hamilton, had raised the skepticism of critics.
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But with his disarming smile, that boy of just 20 years, 2 months and 7 days – the youngest ever to climb to the top of the world – yesterday signed a historic page for Italian motoring. By crossing the finish line in 3rd place in the Mexican Grand Prix, held on the Mexico City circuit and won by Max Verstappen ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi mathematically became Formula 1 world champion. The Mercedes driver from Bologna, born on 25 August 2006, brought the world title back to Italy after 73 years of waiting, picking up the legacy of Alberto Ascari who triumphed over Ferrari in 1953.
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From record victories to the bet won by Toto Wolff
Behind the mask of the normal boy who prefers jet skis and tennis to the spotlight of the jet set, lies a pure phenomenon. In 2026 Kimi Antonelli rewrote the history of speed, becoming the youngest driver in pole position in China, signing the Grand Chelem in Monaco (that is, winning the Grand Prix starting from pole position and setting the fastest lap without ever giving up first position from the start to the checkered flag) and a historic comeback victory in Monza starting from 19th position making all Italians dream. His fairy tale rewarded the intuition of team principal Toto Wolff, who hired him at just 12 years old in 2019, investing 10 million euros in the minor categories and then entrusting him with the silver arrow with a salary of 3 million euros, winning a bet that united the entire motoring nation beyond any sporting rivalry.
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The love for dogs and the commitment to solidarity with the Nazionale Piloti
In addition to the extraordinary qualities expressed on the track, the young champion from Bologna captivates the public with his genuine simplicity and his passions far from the spotlight of the paddock. A great animal lover, in the past she had a German Shepherd, on 29 August 2026 she visited the Zampa d’Oro breeding farm in San Marino, cuddling an American Golden Retriever puppy named Lola Bunny.
This profound respect for the animal world is also reflected in his public commitment: on 30 May 2026, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary celebrated at the Imola Autodrome, Kimi Antonelli officially joined the National Pilots team, embracing the foundation’s charitable projects aimed precisely at the protection and safeguarding of animals alongside traditional charity football matches.
The special bond with the PizzAut kids and the attention to social issues
Kimi’s most authentic side emerges in his constant relationship with fragility and in his rejection of the glitz of the jet set. During the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the driver wanted to meet the autistic children of the PizzAut association, founded by Nico Acampora, in the Mercedes hospitality.
To celebrate their favorite, the young pizza chefs created the “Kimi” pizza, prepared with fiordilatte, Luganega, DOP gorgonzola, wildflower honey and chopped walnuts. Welcoming them into the pits before making the legendary comeback, the new world champion reminded everyone that inclusion is the greatest value and demonstrated once again how the true strength of a phenomenon lies in its disarming normality.
