Jonas Leo
Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has articulated a perspective suggesting that Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the prodigious 19-year-old Italian racing driver, is currently not receiving the full extent of national adoration in Italy, largely due to the pervasive influence and traditional focus on the Ferrari Formula 1 team. Steiner’s observations, shared on The Red Flags Podcast following Antonelli’s sixth victory of the nascent 2026 Formula 1 season at Spa-Francorchamps, highlight a unique dynamic within the passionate Italian motorsport fanbase.
"I spoke with a few Italian journalists in Spa about this because I get the same feeling—he doesn’t get the credit he deserves somehow," Steiner commented, reflecting on the perceived disconnect between Antonelli’s on-track achievements and his public recognition within his home country. The sentiment underscores a deeper cultural phenomenon in Italian motorsport, where allegiance to the iconic scarlet of Ferrari often overshadows individual talent, particularly when that talent is associated with a rival manufacturer.
Steiner drew a compelling parallel with Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner, whose recent triumphs have garnered widespread national acclaim and cemented his status as a sporting hero. "In Italy, you’ve now got two very good sportsmen," Steiner noted. "Jannik Sinner in tennis, who is just walking away [with it], and then you’ve got Kimi Antonelli. But Kimi doesn’t get the same credit as Jannik Sinner, and I find that one weird, to say the least."
This disparity, Steiner argues, stems from Ferrari’s deeply ingrained identity as Italy’s national team. The Scuderia, with its rich history, numerous championships, and status as the only team to have competed in every F1 season since its inception in 1950, is more than just a racing outfit; it is a symbol of Italian industrial prowess, passion, and competitive spirit. For generations, Italian motorsport fans have rallied behind the Maranello-based team, making "Forza Ferrari" a ubiquitous chant at circuits worldwide. This fervent, almost tribal, loyalty has historically left less room for widespread, individualistic support for Italian drivers not wearing the red colours.
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"It has to do with Ferrari being seen as the Italian team, the national team," Steiner elaborated. "More people still need to get used to the fact that there is an Italian F1 driver, who is actually world-class, and not only a team, because there wasn’t one for a very, very long time."
Indeed, Italy’s history in Formula 1, while rich in team heritage, has seen a relatively sparse presence of world champion drivers. Alberto Ascari remains the last Italian to clinch an F1 drivers’ title, achieving back-to-back championships in 1952 and 1953, both with Ferrari. Since then, while drivers like Michele Alboreto, Riccardo Patrese, Jarno Trulli, and Giancarlo Fisichella have enjoyed successful careers, none reached the pinnacle of a world championship. The last Italian driver to win an F1 Grand Prix was Fisichella in 2006. This extended period without an Italian driver consistently at the very front of the grid has reinforced the collective focus on the team rather than individual national heroes in the sport.
Antonelli, a product of the prestigious Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Junior Programme, represents a new generation of Italian talent. His rapid ascent through the junior ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. After a dominant karting career, he made an immediate impact in single-seaters, winning both the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 championships in 2022. He followed this with titles in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2023, showcasing an exceptional adaptability and raw speed. His promotion directly to Formula 2 for the 2024 season, skipping Formula 3, further highlighted Mercedes’ confidence in his potential. While his real-world 2024 F2 campaign is still unfolding, the article posits a future where he is already a front-runner in Formula 1.
The narrative presented within Steiner’s comments places Antonelli firmly in the Formula 1 arena for the 2026 season, competing alongside seasoned professionals like George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The former Haas boss’s remarks come at a time when, according to the article’s premise, Antonelli is enjoying a breakout F1 season. Having secured victories in China, Japan (back-to-back), Miami, Canada, Monaco, and Belgium, Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ championship with an impressive 204 points, establishing a significant 45-point cushion over seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is in second place. This level of performance, particularly in his debut or early F1 season, would typically ignite a nationwide fervour, as seen with Sinner in tennis.
Jannik Sinner’s recent exploits have captivated Italy. The 22-year-old tennis star’s victory at the 2024 Australian Open marked Italy’s first Grand Slam singles title in men’s tennis in nearly half a century. His subsequent ascent to the world number two ranking and wins at the Miami Open and Rotterdam Open have transformed him into a national icon, celebrated across all media platforms and by fans of all ages. His success has not only elevated his personal profile but has also spurred a renewed interest in tennis throughout Italy, demonstrating the power of an individual sporting hero to galvanise national support. The contrast with Antonelli’s situation, despite his equally impressive achievements in a hypothetical future F1 season, is stark.
Despite the perceived slow uptake, Steiner remains optimistic that Antonelli’s Italian fanbase will eventually expand to match his on-track brilliance. "He deserves more, and I think there is now a growing awareness [that] this guy is actually special," Steiner added. "We need to pay more attention to him and maybe let Ferrari go a little bit."
When pressed on whether it needed to be an either/or choice between Ferrari and Antonelli, Steiner clarified his position: "Maybe just do not put all your eggs in that basket: Ferrari. There is somebody out there who you can cheer on. He deserves more than he gets at the moment in Italy." His plea is not for Italians to abandon their beloved Ferrari but to broaden their scope of national pride to include individual talents who are excelling on the global stage, regardless of their team affiliation.
The emergence of a potential world-class Italian Formula 1 driver, particularly one aligned with a formidable team like Mercedes, presents a unique challenge and opportunity for Italian motorsport culture. It asks fans to consider a dual loyalty, to celebrate a national hero who might be competing against their cherished Scuderia. Should Antonelli continue his trajectory, as outlined by his hypothetical 2026 season performance, his undeniable talent and achievements are poised to eventually break through the Ferrari-centric narrative, forcing a recalibration of national sporting allegiance and fostering a new era of individual Italian motorsport heroes. The question remains how quickly the Italian public will embrace this burgeoning star and whether the passion for "Il Cavallino Rampante" can coexist with the burgeoning support for Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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