Is ‘disruptor’ Antonelli winning hearts in Italy, where Ferrari is F1?

Kimi Antonelli has created an unusual problem for Italian Formula 1 fans: the country’s brightest new hope drives for Mercedes, not Ferrari.

The 19-year-old became the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history when he won in Japan in March. He has remained at the top since then. By the time he reaches the Italian Grand Prix, Antonelli leads the standings by 59 points and has won six races this season.

“

Ferrari is my heart.

Ferrari, however, remains a sporting religion in Italy. Thomas, who was born and raised in Monza, told BBC Sport that Ferrari was his heart. Emanuele, attending the grand prix with his daughter Matilde, put it more bluntly: “In Italy, we do support other teams and other sports, but there is only one Ferrari.”

“

It's a religion.

Ferrari’s spiritual home in Maranello erupts when the team wins. Adrian Hussain, a member of the Scuderia Ferrari Club Silverstone, described celebrations as people filling the streets, singing and dancing while church bells ring. The last Ferrari driver to win the world championship was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Italy has not produced a world champion driver since Alberto Ascari won consecutive titles for Ferrari in 1952 and 1953.

Antonelli’s rise is challenging that traditional loyalty. Giulia Toninelli of La Gazzetta dello Sport said his strong personality had won over the Italian public, particularly younger fans, and that his Mercedes seat mattered little to them. At Monza, one couple reflected the split: Alessandro wore Ferrari red, while Emma wore Mercedes silver. Emma said she was partly a Ferrarista because she was Italian, but supported Antonelli.

“

In Italy, we do support other teams and other sports, but there is only one Ferrari.

If Antonelli wins the title, with the finale possibly taking place at Imola near his childhood home in Bologna, both fans said it would mean “Italy is back on top.”

“

Antonelli is disrupting the traditional rules of fandom in Italy.