Marco Antonelli: “I saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli etched his name into motor racing folklore by securing the Formula 1 drivers’ title at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming both the youngest-ever world champion in the history of the sport and the first Italian driver to claim the crown since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Racing in just his second season with Mercedes, the 20-year-old phenom culminated a remarkable campaign that silenced critics and proved his readiness on the grandest stage of world motorsport.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, his father Marco Antonelli—a former touring car competitor and current team principal of AKM Motorsport—reflected on the enormity of his son’s title win and the journey to the pinnacle of motorsport.

The Emotional Reality of an Unprecedented F1 Title

When asked by Motorsport.com how it feels to see his son become world champion, Marco admitted that the sheer scale of the achievement has yet to fully settle in:

“It’s difficult to say. You don’t really take it in because it’s something so big that it almost feels strange. You fight for a championship just like all the ones he’s competed in up to now, and honestly, we don’t feel the difference. We haven’t really grasped that we’re talking about Formula 1.”

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Asked whether the triumph would sink in over the coming days, Marco explained:

“I think so. Today Kimi became world champion and everyone is starting to talk about it, but I still haven’t really taken in what he’s achieved. Until a few hours ago, there was a title to win, and he prepared for it with the same mentality he’s always had. He’s approached every race in the same way, trying to do the best possible job each time, without looking at the standings. I don’t think anything changes today.”

Addressing how they manage the intense pressure and release race-weekend tension, Marco drew on his own background behind the wheel:

“There’s pressure and there’s tension. You can also release the tension with the people around you. When you’re about to get into the car, it’s not so much pressure as the tension of someone who wants to do well. You’ve raced too, so you know what it means when you’re half an hour away from a race and you start thinking about going out there and trying to win. You deal with the pressure by trying to give 100% every time you go on track, without thinking about the final outcome of the season.”

A Father, a Mentor, and the Grid Connection

During the critical half-hour countdown on the starting grid, Kimi consistently seeks out his father. Acknowledging that routine, Marco noted:

“He looks for me a lot…”

Confirming that a simple exchange of looks is often all that is needed, Marco detailed their unspoken communication:

“That’s right. And quite often I ask him if he’s feeling the tension before a race, and he admits that he is. I tell him that’s a positive thing because it’s getting the adrenaline going so he can perform at his best.

“Kimi sees me a little as his mentor, so he knows that with a glance he can find support and reassurance. He knows I understand what he’s feeling.”

While the Mercedes engineering staff handles all technical matters, Marco represents the human anchor when Kimi gets into the cockpit:

“Yes, because, as I said earlier, having been a driver myself, although not at his level, I understand what it means to get into a car. Whether you’re racing in Formula 1 or GT, drivers always ask themselves the same questions. They wonder: ‘What if I don’t do well? What will the others think?’

“These are thoughts that inevitably come up for anyone competing in motor racing, or in any high-level competition where the rivalry is intense.”

Explaining what that dynamic brings to Kimi, Marco added:

“Kimi knows I understand him, and that’s probably why he looks for me. A glance or a hug can give him that moment of relaxation that helps him maintain his concentration when he gets into the car to deliver a result.”

Summing up what the championship means on a personal level, he stated:

“It means happiness for him, happiness for me as a father, and happiness for all of us as a family who have always followed him.”

Avoiding Past Pitfalls and Forging an Independent Path

Marco previously competed in Super Touring with privately run machinery—such as a BMW M3 operated with AB Motorsport—battling works teams without the resources needed for a top-tier professional career. When questioned if Kimi’s rise compensates for his own missed chances, Marco dismissed the notion of living vicariously through his son:

“Well, perhaps that’s a bit of an obvious way of looking at it. My experience may have been useful. Even though I was a fairly quick driver, I never found myself in the right place at the right time.”

Elaborating on that fear and how Kimi overcame it, Marco said:

“When my son started racing, I was afraid he might experience something similar to what I went through. That was my fear, but it didn’t happen because Kimi has always done everything well and found himself in the right circumstances. He knew how to make the most of his opportunities.

“And now I feel enormous happiness because my fears proved unfounded. Seeing him achieve what I couldn’t gives me an extra sense of satisfaction, but anyone who thinks I want to see myself in him is wrong.

“I had my journey, and he’s had his. Kimi has done well because he’s brought everything together, and as a family we’ve created the right conditions for him. Some of my mistakes have been useful because he didn’t repeat them.

“We did well to create the right conditions for him. I don’t think having experience to draw on is a small thing.”

Describing the traits Kimi inherited from himself and his mother Veronica, Marco noted a common resilience:

“We’re very similar. We’re all stubborn. We don’t give up an inch until we’ve achieved what we set out to do.

“There’s dedication to work. I went home after Kimi’s victory in Austin because I had my team at Mugello fighting for a title, and commitments have to be honoured.

“That’s a value I’ve passed on to Kimi, just as his mother encouraged him to continue his studies despite his racing.”

Balancing Business and Life in the Paddock

Despite Kimi’s ascent to global stardom, Marco remains committed to operating his GT and Formula 4 racing team rather than shutting it down:

“Exactly. To follow him, I have to split my time and make an extra effort to keep my business going while staying close to him.

“But just because he’s in Formula 1 doesn’t mean my life or Veronica’s has changed. We’ve remained exactly the same people we’ve always been.”

When asked how they avoid being overwhelmed by the intense F1 media circus, Marco highlighted their distinct tracks:

“Of course, but because I haven’t projected onto him what I wanted to be myself, we’re following two separate, parallel paths.

“My career as a driver came to an end at a certain point, while his continues to develop and he’s achieving the results he’s earned.

“That’s why my life doesn’t change, and I haven’t wanted to mix it with his. As a father, I feel it’s my duty to help my son, but I don’t want to interfere with his journey, and I maintain my own passions.

“What Kimi has more than me, and perhaps more than Veronica too, is the ability to look ahead when dealing with situations.”

Explaining Kimi’s forward-looking disposition, Marco elaborated:

“Over the years, we’ve got to know him and adapted a little to his character.

“He never worries about things before they’ve happened. He never looks at things negatively, and even when something doesn’t work, he looks for a solution to put it right.

“It’s a great quality he’s developed, whereas I was definitely more emotional.

“The other thing that really impresses me is his ability to maintain his concentration.”

Drawing parallels to Ayrton Senna’s famous laser focus, Marco observed:

“Kimi has the ability to shut himself off from the world. And perhaps he got a little of that from me.

“When I was racing and didn’t have any money, I prepared customers’ cars, but at a certain point I had the ability to switch everything off and think about the fact that I had to drive and perhaps try to win.

“But my son can always find the right words, even in the most negative situations, and he never gets discouraged.

“He doesn’t sink down and then have to climb back up. He always manages to maintain his level and keep trying to improve.”

Rival Respect and Motorhome Campsites

Unlike many rookies who endure aggressive tactics from veteran competitors, Kimi has enjoyed an unusually respectful dynamic with icons like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. When asked about this, Marco responded:

“That’s a question you’d have to ask them.

“I think he’s shown great respect for the champions and has seen that respect returned.

“You shouldn’t play dirty tricks. Sporting integrity is important in a competitive environment, and it’s a value he brings with him.

“Of course, if they have to go wheel to wheel, none of them backs down, because they’re certainly not going to make life easy for one another. But there’s always a lot of fairness.”

Away from five-star luxury hotels, the Antonellis often travel to European races in motorhomes, parking in quiet company yards such as in Biassono near Monza alongside the motorhomes of Verstappen and Hamilton. Marco affirmed:

“No, no. We try to stay in fairly private places when we’re parked up with the motorhomes.”

When asked how frequently that happens, he explained:

“With Max, it happens whenever we decide to stay in the motorhome. But it happens very often with Lewis too, and with others.

“We see each other, have a chat, and then everyone gets on with their own life.”

Addressing paddock tales regarding his famous homemade pasta, Marco clarified the reality of their dinners:

“No, not for absolutely everyone! But let’s say that every now and then there’s an opportunity.

“We’ve never managed to have a proper dinner with Lewis because he’s always very busy with sponsors and one thing or another, but it’s true that sometimes we have guests such as Stefano Domenicali and Flavio Briatore.

“But I want to make it clear that the Antonelli restaurant is simple: some pasta, a chicken breast and a salad, nothing more.

“I bring everything from home, and then we play a few games of cards. It’s all very simple.”

Rejecting the high-society paddock stereotype, he added:

“We’re not interested in that. We don’t throw parties, just dinners with friends to enjoy each other’s company.

“It’s no different from when we were racing in the Italian Touring Car Championship. It’s no longer touring cars, it’s Formula 1.”

Asked whether he could ever seat Verstappen and Hamilton at the same dinner table, Marco remarked:

“Lewis has a few more dietary restrictions [he’s vegan], so it’s a bit more difficult. With Max, there are no restrictions.”

Rising Above Criticism and Pinpointing the Turning Point

Following his title confirmation, Marco noted that maintaining the championship benchmark will require immense grit:

“It’s taken a huge amount of effort to climb to the top of the ladder, but staying there is much harder, so we’re already prepared for that.

“For now, we’re enjoying the moment. The emotions are very strong.”

Reflecting on the fierce scrutiny Kimi encountered during difficult periods last season, Marco defended the youngster’s rapid evolution:

“You can’t attack a young man who’s only been in Formula 1 for six months because there have been some poor results.

“I want to point out that those results weren’t always down to him. In fact, he managed to come back from situations that could have destroyed him, because some of the attacks were very harsh.

“His ability to change the course and direction of things, as he did so many times in karting and in championships that seemed lost before he managed to turn everything around, shows Kimi’s strength.

“He’s adding experience and confidence with the car and the team to his natural talent. He’s 20 years old, but his maturity is beyond his age.”

On how high his son’s ceiling might be, Marco stated:

“I think he still has a good margin for improvement, and if you combine that with his mentality of never being satisfied, he’ll have the motivation to keep doing well in Formula 1 as long as he has a competitive car.

“I’d be surprised if I were wrong…”

Toto Wolff and the Mercedes junior program have mentored Kimi for nearly a decade. Asked whether the high-pressure environment was intentionally engineered by the team to test his mettle, Marco remarked:

“I don’t know, because those aren’t subjects we’ve explored in depth.

“Kimi tried to give his best, and we tried to help him. It seems to me that he managed to come through it well.

“Everything else doesn’t matter…”

While many observers considered race weekends in Monaco or Monza to be pivotal moments in the title race, Marco pointed instead to the very first event of the calendar:

“For me, it was the first race of the season, in Australia.

“After the accident in FP3, I never would have thought he’d manage to get back into the car and immediately put it on the front row in qualifying.

“When you have a crash like that, it’s inevitable that you lose a little confidence, and perhaps the ghosts of the previous year come back into your mind.

“Kimi did really well, and he gave me yet another demonstration of his ability to turn things around thanks to his mental strength.”

Even with teammate George Russell winning the Melbourne race, Marco saw unmistakable championship qualities in how Kimi reacted:

“Yes. He went into qualifying with a car that didn’t have a proper set-up because it had only been finished at the very last moment. So he didn’t know whether the car was right or wrong.

“Let’s say he approached that grand prix with the mentality of wanting to put things right within himself.

“And that’s where I saw the champion.

“I knew the season would take a different turn and that he would be a contender. Of course, I couldn’t have imagined it would go this far, but I knew he’d be in the fight.”

Looking back at the extraordinary moments throughout Kimi’s ascent through the junior formula categories, Marco recalled:

“I think I know Kimi very well, but there are times when I ask myself how he managed to pull off certain achievements, and not just in Formula 1.”

Asked for specific instances, Marco recounted:

“When he won the Formula Regional European Championship race at Zandvoort in the wet and was a second quicker than everyone else, or his Formula 4 debut at Monza, or the kart race after his accident at Portimao when he’d broken his leg.

“He’s produced extraordinary performances even without testing beforehand. In GT racing at Misano, he finished 23 seconds ahead of everyone else in a car he barely knew, without making a single mistake.

“I remember all of them, and these aren’t ordinary or straightforward things. Obviously, I’ve seen them all, and I know what he’s capable of.”

Why This Matters

Kimi Antonelli’s crowning at the Mexico City Grand Prix marks a historic watershed for Formula 1 and Italian motorsport. Italy had not celebrated a world champion in the sport since Alberto Ascari secured back-to-back crowns in 1952 and 1953, creating a 70-plus-year void for one of racing’s most storied nations. Furthermore, by eclipsing all previous records to become the youngest champion in F1 history during only his second season, Antonelli validates Mercedes’ aggressive talent development pipeline led by Toto Wolff. His immediate championship success reshapes the competitive landscape at Mercedes alongside George Russell, cementing Antonelli as the sport’s newest benchmark entering future championship campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where did Kimi Antonelli win the Formula 1 World Championship?

Kimi Antonelli secured the Formula 1 drivers’ title at the Mexico City Grand Prix, capturing the crown in just his second season in the championship.

What historical records did Kimi Antonelli break with his victory?

Antonelli became the youngest-ever world champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian driver to win the drivers’ title since Alberto Ascari achieved the feat in 1953.

What does Marco Antonelli consider the turning point of the championship season?

Marco Antonelli identified the Australian Grand Prix as the defining turning point. After a heavy Free Practice 3 crash left the car without an ideal set-up, Kimi rebounded immediately to qualify on the front row, showcasing the mental resilience required of a world champion.