Ferrari CEO Responds to Kimi Antonelli Regret After F1 Title Win

World Champion Kimi Antonelli in Ayrton Senna’s Lotus: “Highly emotional.”

Twenty-year-old Kimi Antonelli secured his first Drivers’ World Championship title in Mexico.

Naturally, there was a party afterwards.

The Italian talks about everything he’s experienced since then.

So Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1 World Champion.

Whilst still in Mexico, the 20-year-old from Bologna had assured everyone: “We hadn’t planned any celebrations there; we’ve still got the race in Brazil to come.

Only then will we finally head back to Italy.

And then I’ll be going full throttle when it comes to partying.

I can already tell you that I won’t be flying to Las Vegas in the best of shape.”

“Everything’s happening so fast – one minute I was in Mexico, the next I’m already here in Brazil.

The days are just flying by.

It would have been nice to sit down for a moment and reflect a little on everything that’s happened.”

Kimi Antonelli is asked about Lewis Hamilton’s 400th Grand Prix at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, São Paulo, whilst in the paddock: “What a number!

I don’t even know how many races I’ve done.

What?

I’m racing in my 44th GP here?

That’s mad!

That’s Lewis’s favourite start number, after all!”

“I reckon I’ve still got a long way to go before my 400th Grand Prix.

In any case, I’ll be going to see Lewis and Max Verstappen as well.

Because it meant a lot to me that they lifted me onto their shoulders.

And it was lovely to feel that their joy for me was genuine.

As I said back in Mexico – this photo will get a place of honour at home, so that I’ll walk past it time and again and be reminded of that wonderful moment.

I’ve already had the photo framed!”

“To be shown so much respect by two such outstanding drivers is really lovely for me.

It wasn’t planned; it was spontaneous, and that makes it even nicer.”

“And as for Lewis’s 400th race – it’s simply fabulous how he’s still delivering such performances at this age and with all those Grands Prix under his belt, and the same goes for Fernando Alonso.

It’s a privilege for me to share the track with him.”

World Champion Kimi Antonelli met Ayrton Senna’s family in Brazil, visited the grave of the unforgettable champion and even sat in the Brazilian racing legend’s Lotus.

Kimi says: “It was incredibly emotional; I’ll never forget that day.

I’m very grateful to the family.

I would have loved never to get out of the Lotus.”

Antonelli has made it a tradition to visit three-time F1 world champion Senna’s grave in the build up to the race in Brazil, having also done so last year.

Senna, who was tragically killed in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, is the childhood idol of Antonelli.

Senna died at Imola, which is just down the road from Antonelli’s birthplace of Bologna.

Antonelli celebrated winning his maiden F1 title last weekend following a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

In doing so, the 20-year-old Italian also took his place in history as F1’s youngest-ever world champion.

After wrapping up the world championship with four races to spare, Antonelli paid a tribute to Senna’s grave in Sao Paulo ahead of this weekend’s grand prix.

Antonelli is planning to run a special helmet design dedicated to Senna as a tribute in Brazil.

“I will have a special happening for Brazil, for Ayrton,” Antonelli said.

“Also because it’s going to be 35 years ever since he won for the first time in Brazil.

I think it’s one of my best helmets that I’ve made.

So hopefully you guys, everyone, will like it.

It’s going to be a very special weekend.

I’m very much looking forward to it.

The support from Brazil has been incredible, not only this year but already from last year.”

As the reigning world champion, Antonelli has the choice to run the number 1 on his car for his title defence in 2027.

But Antonelli has confirmed he will stick with his 12 for next season.

It is the same number used by Senna when the Brazilian claimed the first of his three titles with McLaren in 1988.

“I think I’ll stay with number 12,” Antonelli explained.