Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
"To President Mattarella, with great admiration," signed Kimi Antonelli. The new Formula 1 world champion is in the middle of a whirlwind of meetings, events and celebrations for the world title he won two weeks ago at the Mexico Grand Prix, with which he ended a title drought for an Italian driver to win the world championship dating back to 1953. Antonelli, together with his parents Marco ...…
Kimi Antonelli, the new Formula 1 world champion, met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday. Antonelli, accompanied by his parents Marco and Veronica and his sister Maggie, received a warm reception at the Quirinale in Rome. He presented the president with an official helmet from his championship-winning Formula 1 car, bearing a dedication on the visor.
During their conversation, Antonelli explained the physical sensations of driving a Formula 1 single-seater, including the weight loss and heat management. The president inquired about his experiences in lower Formula categories, to which Antonelli replied that karting was more open and less physically demanding than F2 races, which were shorter and more intense.
President Mattarella expressed his hope for a future visit from Antonelli to witness a race, mentioning Monza specifically. The meeting with the president was one of many engagements for Antonelli in the days following his championship win, including attending an Italian football match and celebrating his title in San Marino. He is set to compete in the final three races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, which will take place in Las Vegas.
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