Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
At just 19 years old, Kimi Antonelli has become one of the biggest sporting stories in Italy this year — and it's about way more than just racing. Antonelli currently leads the 2026 Drivers' Championship at the halfway point of the season, and if he goes on to become Kimi Antonelli world champion, he'd be Italy's first F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari back in 1953. In this video, I dig into all the Kimi Antonelli news behind his meteoric rise, from being compared to tennis star Jannik Sinner in what's being called "Antonelli mania," to reports of a possible Vatican audience with the Pope. This isn't just about Kimi Antonelli fans getting excited over race wins — the Bologna-born teenager is being embraced as a genuine national hero, and I break down exactly how and why it happened so fast at Mercedes.
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Check out my brand new podcast @paddockaccess
Bring the destination and atmosphere of your favourite Grand Prix into your home or office with one of my canvas or acrylic prints: kymillman.com/photography/kyms-images
Autographed F1 driver prints: kymillman.com/signed-prints
Love F1? Get a race or driver photo book, calendar, or poster from my store: kymillman.com/store
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commercial use at Getty Images
0:00 Intro
0:12 Kimi Antonelli in Italy
2:04 Italian sports stars
2:22 Kimi's support network
2:38 Kimi's FP1 crash at Monza
3:20 What if Kimi wins at Monza?
4:06 Kimi Antonelli
4:33 Lando Norris
6:07 Will Isack Hadjar race at Monza?
6:40 Madring testing
7:18 Abu Dhabi GP
8:38 Travel videos
At just 19 years old, Kimi Antonelli has become one of the biggest sporting stories in Italy this year — and it's about way more than just racing. Antonelli currently leads the 2026 Drivers' Championship at the halfway point of the season, and if he goes on to become Kimi Antonelli world champion, he'd be Italy's first F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari back in 1953. In this video, I dig into all the Kimi Antonelli news behind his meteoric rise, from being compared to tennis star Jannik Sinner in what's being called "Antonelli mania," to reports of a possible Vatican audience with the Pope. This isn't just about Kimi Antonelli fans getting excited over race wins — the Bologna-born teenager is being embraced as a genuine national hero, and I break down exactly how and why it happened so fast at Mercedes.
Get one of my signature bucket hats today: kymillman.com/store/bucket-hats
Check out my brand new podcast @paddockaccess
Bring the destination and atmosphere of your favourite Grand Prix into your home or office with one of my canvas or acrylic prints: kymillman.com/photography/kyms-images
Autographed F1 driver prints: kymillman.com/signed-prints
Love F1? Get a race or driver photo book, calendar, or poster from my store: kymillman.com/store
Digital images (for personal and editorial use) are available at prostarpics.com
commercial use at Getty Images
0:00 Intro
0:12 Kimi Antonelli in Italy
2:04 Italian sports stars
2:22 Kimi's support network
2:38 Kimi's FP1 crash at Monza
3:20 What if Kimi wins at Monza?
4:06 Kimi Antonelli
4:33 Lando Norris
6:07 Will Isack Hadjar race at Monza?
6:40 Madring testing
7:18 Abu Dhabi GP
8:38 Travel videos
