Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) pays tribute to Valentino Rossi: a special helmet for Monza

The Italian Kimi Antonelli didn’t want to wear his usual helmet colours for his home race at Monza, but instead wanted to come up with something fresh: the result is a tribute to his homeland and to his mate Valentino Rossi.

Mercedes driver Antonelli opted for a design similar to the one the former motorcycling star wore at Mugello in 2002. Antonelli approached Rossi’s helmet painter, Aldo Drudi, for this.

Alongside the traditional Italian tricolour, the design features symbols typical of Italy – coffee, pizza, pasta, as well as a bidet, the colours of the Italian national football team, white underwear and family, and Rossi himself, carried on Antonelli’s back.

Ein Knicks vor Valentino Rossi

Foto: Instagram/KimiAntonelli

Antonelli writes about Rossi on his social media: “Vale was immediately thrilled that we were going to collaborate on my helmet. For me, Vale is a legend, a role model – and I’m lucky enough to call him my friend.”

Topic of the week

2027 MotoGP grid: Almost a quarter of the riders are new – implications for SBK

The 2027 MotoGP grid will feature five new regular riders, with at least three of those dropped set to move to the World Superbike Championship. The ones to suffer as a result are Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci.

Ivo Schützbach

Read more

TV program

Today

Monza: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

04.09.2026 - 12:15

Valentino Rossi will be coming to the Autodromo this weekend to cheer Antonelli on.