Source: Official Team Post via X
Toto Wolff Predicts Ferrari Fans Will Embrace Kimi Antonelli by 2027
Kimi Antonelli is set to become Italy's first F1 champion since 1953, leaving Ferrari fans in a potential identity crisis. Toto Wolff humorously suggests that Antonelli's success might have Ferrari fans swapping their red for Mercedes caps.
Kimi Antonelli, on the brink of becoming Italy's first Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, has been a sensation this season. With his recent victory at the US Grand Prix, Antonelli has extended his lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell to a commanding 123 points. With only 125 points left to contest, a top-nine finish in Mexico will secure the championship for him.
Italy hasn't seen a race winner since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006, but Antonelli's nine wins this season have reinvigorated Italian pride in Formula 1. He's closing in on Ascari's national record of 13 wins in a single season, and his success presents a curious dilemma for Italian fans traditionally loyal to Ferrari.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal, has observed an amusing shift among Ferrari fans, especially after Antonelli's stunning victory at Monza. Starting from 19th, Antonelli's win left the Ferrari faithful in a quandary as they watched an Italian driver celebrate on the podium in Mercedes colors. Wolff humorously noted that Ferrari fans looked 'confused,' and he anticipates a rise in Antonelli-themed merchandise disrupting the iconic sea of red in the stands.
Wolff praised Antonelli's performance in Austin, where he won by over 13 seconds, suggesting it might be his best race of the season. However, the victory at Monza holds a special place due to the home crowd's reaction.
Ferrari, meanwhile, has shown improvement after a winless 2025. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each secured a victory this season, yet the SF-26 hasn't fully lived up to its potential. Despite holding second place in the constructors' standings, Ferrari's title drought stretches to 19 years, highlighting the gap between them and the dominant Mercedes team.
As Antonelli stands on the cusp of championship glory, the future might see Ferrari fans donning Mercedes caps, much to the delight—or dismay—of the tifosi. Until then, the battle for second in the drivers' championship remains a compelling subplot, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton vying for the position.