At Spa‑Francorchamps, Kimi Antonelli’s sixth victory of the season has still not won over Italy’s fervent Ferrari fans.
Kinetic Drivers of Italian Pediment
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner spoke on the Red Flags Podcast, noting that the 19‑year‑old Mercedes driver “doesn’t get the credit he deserves” despite dominating the calendar. Steiner told Italian journalists that a cultural bias towards Ferrari still overshadows Antonelli’s achievements, echoing the sentiment he observed in the French circuit’s paddock.
Comparative Spotlight: From Tennis to the Track
Steiner paralleled the conversation with Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, saying, “Both Jannik and Kimi are proving Italian talent beyond one domain, yet Kimi is not being recognized to the same extent.” He urged Italians to broaden their allegiance and “don’t put all the eggs in the Ferrari basket.”
Photo credit: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes. Photo by Alastair Staley via Getty Images.
Leading the Charge
Antonelli has amassed eight victories so far: China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco, and Belgium, topping the drivers’ championship with 204 points, 45 points clear of Lewis Hamilton. His back‑to‑back wins in the “World Series of Nations” pushed him above teammate George Russell, turning the season into an unexpected narrative.
Steiner’s optimism is clear: “He deserves more, and the Italian public is slowly catching up.” As the calendar for 2026 unfolds, the 19‑year‑old’s record‑setting run may finally compel a reevaluation of Italy’s racing iconography beyond the Red Bull‑ironed livery of Ferrari.
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