Fisichella Backs Antonelli to Handle Pressure and Keep Italy's F1 Hopes Alive
Giancarlo Fisichella is optimistic about Kimi Antonelli's prospects in the F1 title race, following the young Italian's impressive string of victories. Antonelli has already broken records and leads the championship, despite recent setbacks.
Giancarlo Fisichella, a former stalwart of Italian Formula 1 racing, has expressed his confidence in 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli's ability to manage the pressures of the championship fight. Speaking on this week's episode of _Beyond The Grid_, Fisichella was full of praise for the young driver who ended Italy's two-decade wait for a Grand Prix victory.
"Finally!" was Fisichella's response to Antonelli's achievements, as he recalled his own last win in Malaysia back in 2006. Despite holding the title of the last Italian Grand Prix winner for so long, Fisichella showed no signs of being dethroned. Instead, he celebrated Antonelli's five wins and five pole positions in rapid succession, a feat Fisichella noted took him 231 Grands Prix to achieve only three victories.
Antonelli's winning streak, which began in China and continued across Japan, Miami, Canada, and Monaco, has been nothing short of remarkable. Though recent races saw him grappling with reliability issues in Barcelona and Great Britain, and being outpaced by his teammate in Austria, he still holds the lead in the Drivers' Championship. However, his cushion has shrunk from 61 points to just 25 over George Russell.
Fisichella believes Antonelli has a genuine shot at becoming the youngest F1 World Champion ever. He advised Antonelli to keep a cool head, focusing on each race individually to maintain his championship bid. "Kimi might look baby-faced," Fisichella jested, "but once the visor's down, it's a different story."
Antonelli's rise this season has been spectacular, especially after a debut year in 2025 that was peppered with inconsistencies. His maiden FP1 outing at Monza ended in a crash, prompting some to question his readiness. Yet, with last year's experience and a more competitive car, Antonelli seems to have found his footing.
Fisichella is keen to see Italy clinch another Drivers' Championship, a feat last accomplished by Alberto Ascari in 1953. "Italy, home of Ferrari and the passionate tifosi, has sorely missed an Italian World Champion," he remarked, highlighting the decades-long wait.
To catch the full conversation, tune into this week’s episode of _Beyond The Grid_, available on various podcasting platforms.