Kimi Antonelli from the perspective of McLaren team principal Stella: “Extremely aggressive”

Most Formula 1 fans weren’t even born when the last Italian F1 champion was crowned – Alberto Ascari in 1953. Seventy-three years later, it is now the turn of 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli.

Kimi’s Italian compatriot Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, has spoken about Antonelli’s fabulous second Formula 1 season. The 55-year-old Stella says: “I find it always very interesting to watch Kimi drive because he’s attacking practically every moment. You often see him balancing on the limit, even crossing the track’s boundaries, and from the camera’s perspective he always looks extremely aggressive.”

McLaren-Teamchef Andrea Stella

Foto: XPB

“It’s not just an aggressive driving style: with the 2026 race cars, it’s an extremely effective way of driving. I’d remind you just how difficult it is to drive these cars consistently and quickly. I therefore believe Antonelli deserves great credit for having adapted his driving style to what these cars require.”

“But at the same time – almost contradicting what I’ve just said – in most cases, and despite all that aggression, he was able to secure the best possible result. That is why I think he is rightly the champion-elect. In doing so, he is writing an important chapter in the history of motorsport, for there has never been such a young world champion before.”

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“It’s truly astonishing that we will now be mentioning him in the same breath as the Italian champions Giuseppe Farina and Alberto Ascari. We can only admire him and offer our heartfelt congratulations.”