“The easiest bit… is keeping him grounded. The bigger problem is the Italian public,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as the Kimi Antonelli hype train continued to steamroll on. The 19-year-old Italian is now 20 points clear at the top of the F1 world championship standings and has won three grands prix in a row; his win in Miami last Sunday came on the same day Italian sport’s biggest star, Jannik Sinner, made history with a fifth straight Masters 1000 title, triumphing in Madrid.
While their individual circumstances are different – Antonelli is being chased by a flock of challengers including his own teammate George Russell and Sinner stands alone on the men’s tennis tour – it is hard to deny that Italian sport is having a moment.
