After a 73-year wait, Italy has a new Formula 1 world champion: 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli made the title official in Mexico City. The driver from Bologna had produced the sensation of the season at Monza, winning the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid. After that triumph he was pictured eating tagliatelle al ragù, a Bolognese classic, straight out of the winner's trophy. At Trattoria dal Biassanot, where Antonelli is a regular, owner Luca Bugamelli explains that Kimi is simply one of the family, so much so that there is not a single photo of him on the walls. Manuel Fantini, owner of the Galliano Park karting circuit, recalls that the pedals had to be specially adapted for six-year-old Kimi, and that the boy's absurd speed on his very first lap left him asking: "Mamma mia, who the hell is this?" According to Fantini, the youngster's priority was never simply speed but improving his own skills, which he sees as the real key to becoming a champion in motorsport.
An Italian talent racing for German team Mercedes has created an unprecedented dilemma for local fans, splitting the army of supporters in Ferrari's homeland in two. "Kimi walks around the city sometimes. He'll go to the stadium to watch Bologna Football Club. He's very integrated in the city," said Paolo, a Bologna resident sporting a Ferrari jumper. "I feel very proud that a person from these streets could be so famous and win so many things," added Somaya, a student. Born in Bologna and raised in the garage, Antonelli now stands alone as the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
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