Steiner urges Italy to give Antonelli more support after F1 title

Kimi Antonelli ended Italy’s 73-year wait for an F1 world champion, but Guenther Steiner believes the Mercedes driver still deserves greater recognition at home.

Steiner, the former Haas team principal, told RacingNews365 that Italy’s attachment to Ferrari may help explain what he sees as a shortfall in support. Ferrari, he said, occupies the place of a national team, and many Italians may need time to adjust to backing a home-grown driver at world-title level.

“Kimi deserves a little more support from the people there,” Steiner said. He hopes Antonelli will receive the same affection in Italy as tennis player Jannik Sinner.

Antonelli secured the championship with third place in Mexico City. At 20 years and 68 days old, he became Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had previously urged Italian media not to put too much pressure on Antonelli or compare him prematurely with Ayrton Senna.