Antonelli embraces stardom – but misses 'not being recognised'

Kimi Antonelli's meteoric rise to the top of Formula 1 has brought more than race wins and a commanding championship lead.

It has also transformed the 19-year-old into one of Italy's biggest sporting stars, with the Mercedes driver admitting that life away from the circuit is no longer as anonymous as it once was.

After a breakthrough campaign that has yielded six victories so far from the opening 10 races, Antonelli arrives at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix sitting comfortably atop the standings, 45 points clear of his nearest rival and 50 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Success has made the Italian the face of a new generation in Formula 1, and nowhere is the excitement greater than in his homeland.

New-found fame comes with a price

Antonelli says the affection he receives from Italian fans is something he deeply appreciates, even if it comes with a few inevitable compromises.

“It’s great to see the support when I go back home,” he said. “Also because, as Italians, we’re quite emotional. We show our emotions a lot. So to see the excitement is great.

“However, you also need to be careful with the expectations that are built. But it’s always great to be back home, especially after a good weekend, to see so much support.

The growing attention has also meant accepting that everyday moments are no longer entirely private.

“Also, to the other question of being famous, for sure there are times where you would like not to be recognised when you do certain things, when you go for dinner. But that’s also part of being an athlete,” he added.

“To be fair, as long as you’re able to embrace these moments, I think it’s also very nice and very enjoyable.

“But, of course, there are times where I would like to be unrecognised. At the same time, I know it’s part of it, and I’m very happy this way.”

The comments underline the balancing act facing Formula 1's newest championship frontrunner, who is learning that title contention brings as much scrutiny off the track as it does pressure on it.

Roger Federer offers timely advice

Antonelli's growing profile even opened the door to a recent memorable encounter following the disappointment of the British Grand Prix, where victory slipped away after a wheel shield inflicted race-ending damage on his Mercedes.

The following day, the Italian attended Wimbledon for the first time, watching from the Royal Box and spending time with eight-time Old England champion Roger Federer.

The meeting proved memorable for far more than the tennis.

“It was great. It was my first time at Wimbledon,” he explained, quoted by Motorsport Week. “In the past couple of years, I’ve got more and more into tennis.

“Obviously, also knowing Jannik [Sinner, fellow Italian and Wimbledon winner], you start watching. So, it was a really cool experience, and also to be able to talk with Roger was great.

“He told me a lot about the grass court and also from his previous experiences. It was just great to chat with him about anything, to be fair.

“We chatted about my races. We chatted about when he used to play, and also about his life in general. So, it was great because I think he’s also, other than an incredible athlete, an incredible person as well. Very humble and very open. So, it was great.

• Read also: Wolff reveals the unexpected traits behind Antonelli’s rise

Federer also shared advice that could prove invaluable as Antonelli attempts to convert his championship lead into a maiden world title.

“About pressure, he just told me to really focus one race at a time, just focus on what you can control, and also to control the emotions, especially the ones that can make you do mistakes.

“Those were the main pieces of advice. Other than that, it was an incredible experience to witness.”

With the pressure mounting and the spotlight growing brighter by the week, Antonelli appears to be taking the same measured approach that has served him so well on the track.

Fame may have changed his daily life, but as he heads to Budapest with a healthy championship cushion, the young Italian seems determined not to let it change his focus.

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