Marco Antonelli: I Saw the Champion in Kimi in 2026

Key Takeaways

What Marco Antonelli said about the title

Marco Antonelli says becoming world champion still feels almost strange to him and the family. Speaking to Motorsport.com, he said: “It’s difficult to say. You don’t really take it in because it’s something so big that it almost feels strange.”

He added that the family treated the fight like every championship Kimi has contested before: “You fight for a championship just like all the ones he’s competed in up to now, and honestly, we don’t feel the difference. We haven’t really grasped that we’re talking about Formula 1.”

A historic championship for Italy

Kimi Antonelli is the first Italian to win the Formula 1 world title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He secured it at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which makes him the youngest champion in the sport’s history, according to the source.

Antonelli drives for Mercedes in his second F1 season. After round 16 of 23 he led the standings on 320 points, with teammate George Russell second on 236.

The mindset behind the championship

According to Marco, Kimi approached the title with the same mentality he has always had. Marco said that until a few hours before the interview there was still a title to win, and that his son prepared for it as he always does.

He explained that Kimi tackled every race the same way, “trying to do the best possible job each time, without looking at the standings.” Marco added: “I don’t think anything changes today.”

Handling pressure on the grid

Marco Antonelli separates pressure from tension, and says Kimi handles both by giving everything on track. He told Motorsport.com: “There’s pressure and there’s tension. You can also release the tension with the people around you.”

Marco, who has raced himself, described the half hour before a race as the tension of someone who wants to do well. His advice is to give 100% each time on track, “without thinking about the final outcome of the season.” The interviewer noted that Kimi looks for his father a lot on the grid, and Marco confirmed: “He looks for me a lot…”

The Australia crash and the champion’s belief

The headline of the interview centres on Marco’s belief that he saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash. The source material available here does not detail that crash or the rest of Marco’s answer, so this report does not go beyond the quote itself.

The interview shows the family’s focus on development, composure and consistency rather than on the championship table. Fans of the new champion can browse the Kimi Antonelli collection.

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