Antonelli remains ‘one of us’ in Bologna, says restaurant owner

Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1 world champion, but restaurant owner Luca Bugamelli still calls him “one of us” in Bologna. Bugamelli says he has known Antonelli since childhood and that the driver still comes to eat at his restaurant with his parents and sister.

At Trattoria dal Biassanot, there are no photographs of Antonelli’s visits on the walls. Antonelli was born in Bologna and still visits regularly.

Paolo, a Bologna resident, says Antonelli sometimes walks around the city. He says Antonelli goes to the stadium to watch Bologna Football Club.

Somaya, a 20-year-old student, says Antonelli’s success makes her proud to be from Bologna and inspires her. When Antonelli clinched the world title in Mexico, Italy had gone 73 years without a Formula 1 drivers’ champion.