The exploits of the Bolognese make us dream of a country which, however, in F1 has always identified itself with the Cavallino, a rival for the same sporting objective. Enthusiasts had never been faced with a similar choice
Will Italy now support Ferrari or Kimi Antonelli more? Call it the Italian derby, call it the dilemma. Another of the records not written by the young Italian phenomenon from Mercedes was that of having just opened an unexpected debate among those who follow F1 in our country. For the first time in the era of social media and ‘tribal’ fans, the Italian who wins and leads the F1 World Championship ranking is not in red, but in silver. And he can become world champion, perhaps at the expense of Ferrari. The vast majority of Italians have always loved the Prancing Horse without conditions, an almost religious support. The expression “National Motors” was coined specifically for the Scuderia. Ferrari’s victories and world titles are celebrated with the festive bells of Maranello and often with messages from the presidents of the Republic or the Council in office. Ferrari is not just a car manufacturer, it is our cultural identity. Yet for a couple of weeks there has been a 19-year-old boy from Bologna who has won in F1 and is leading the championship, putting the Maranello cars behind him. The “short circuit of support” has served its purpose: in the news, on social media and in the hearts of fans who are starting to make room for someone else or even divide. On one side there is the redhead, on the other Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
face that pleases
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Young, friendly, winning. And with a clean boy-next-door face that also appeals to mothers and grandmothers who, perhaps, absentmindedly follow motor racing. The point is that Kimi wins with Mercedes. The last Italian driver perceived as a stable candidate for victory in the F1 World Championship was Michele Alboreto in the now distant 1985, that is, forty years ago. But in that case they all agreed and the dilemma didn’t even arise: the Milanese driver was racing for Ferrari. In Alboreto’s era and in the years that followed, other Italian drivers won races in F1: Elio De Angelis, Riccardo Patrese, Alessandro Nannini, Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella. But this type of attention and dilemma is totally new.
kimi’s exploits
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On the other hand, how can one remain indifferent to the extent of Antonelli’s sporting achievement? Whether you follow F1 with passion or occasionally, anyone understands that we are talking about an Italian boy who won two consecutive GPs at the age of 19, becoming the youngest world championship leader ever. The last Italian driver to score a double was Alberto Ascari in 1953. Another era. Speaking of modern F1, in short, it is absolutely the first time. Even Ferrari itself, after Kimi’s victory in Shanghai, had symbolically shaken Antonelli’s hand with a message via social media: “You never forget your first… congrats…”. A message for a driver who, on the track, is a direct rival. But Italian. A global sporting gesture, but which when read in Italy takes on an unprecedented value: Ferrari does not ask the fans to change their faith, but legitimizes Kimi’s feat.
three blocks
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The cheering categories are divided into three blocks. The first is Ferrari-first: F1 in Italy remains Ferrari, and the rest is secondary. The second is Italy-first: if an Italian wins again and leads the standings, the fans must recognize the merit beyond the livery. The third is hybrid: you can support both until it becomes an ultimatum, and in that case a personal hierarchy based on history, territory, generation, personal taste decides. A recent Rai report in Maranello interviewed some Ferrari fans who were optimistic and applauded “Kimi, the neighbor who races as an opponent”. The key phrase is almost a popular editorial: “We are all happy, especially for Ferrari, but also for Kimi.” Others’ emotional solution is to support the red as their primary identity and, at the same time, hope for a symbolic transfer that will mend the rift (“Let’s hope that one day Kimi drives Ferrari”). On social media there are many compliments to the Bolognese, but also those who don’t rejoice because Antonelli drives for his German rivals or because he simply feels pulled by the sleeve: “Has the campaign started to force the Ferrari fans to support Kimi?”.
multipolar
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Perhaps the conclusion is less romantic and more concrete: Italian support is starting to be multipolar. Ferrari remains a strong, almost all-encompassing identity. But the emergence of an Italian champion in a top opposing team introduces a choice that had not yet emerged with such urgency. Not to mention the scenario of a championship finale in which Antonelli had to battle it out point-to-point with Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton for the World Championship victory. What would happen? For now we limit ourselves to recording one fact: in 2026, for the first time in Italy, the question “Who do you support in F1?” it no longer has such an automatic response.
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