Antonelli’s father reflects on son’s ‘important’ title triumph

Kimi Antonelli’s father, Marco, has described his son’s maiden Formula 1 world championship as an “important” achievement, reflecting on the “special” relationship that helped the 20-year-old through a demanding rise to the top. Antonelli sealed the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix by finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, then shared an emotional celebration with his family.

Why it matters:

The result makes Antonelli Italy’s first world champion in 73 years and confirms the Mercedes driver’s rapid emergence as a title contender. It also carries personal weight for a family that has followed his career closely, with Marco a regular presence in the Mercedes garage.

The details:

• Marco told Sky Sports F1 that Antonelli has grown “stronger and stronger” step by step, calling their father-son relationship the best thing he could have.
• He said he did “nothing special” beyond doing what he believes every father should do for his family.
• Antonelli started fourth in Mexico, passed Charles Leclerc for third and secured enough points to clinch the crown.
• Marco told F1 TV he cried when he told his son he was champion, and said the difficult 2025 season taught Kimi how to handle pressure after stepping into a car previously raced by a seven-time champion.
• He called the on-track celebration, surrounded by fans and cars, “my life.”

What’s next:

Antonelli now enters the off-season as champion, with his father’s words underlining how quickly a difficult period has turned into a defining triumph.