Kimi Antonelli secured his eighth Formula 1 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, yet the moment that captured most headlines was his father Marco fronting the pit lane in a red carnation and handing it over for a shared laugh and hug.
Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
A heartfelt moment goes viral
Social media exploded hours later with fans dubbing the display “wholesome” and “precious.” One Reddit user remarked, “Such a wholesome moment. Kimi is so easy to root for,” while a joke about “The Bachelor” appeared in a comment thread. Italian fans posted, “This is the most Italian thing ever and I love it! Andiamo Kimi!” and praised the gesture as “the new GOAT.” The red carnation, described by some as a “Papanelli” symbol, further fueled the “precious” narrative shared across X and other platforms.
Antonelli extends championship lead
With 25 points added at the Barcelona event, Antonelli’s tally now sits 81 points above teammate George Russell, who remains in second place of the standings. Despite the widening advantage, the young driver stated he does not want to fix his eyes on the title prematurely. “I want to keep pushing race by race, keep delivering, enjoy every turn, and do my best each time,” Antonelli said, implying he will see where the season concludes without added pressure.
Looking ahead, the 15th round will be the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, running from 24‑26 September at Baku City Circuit.
"