ITalia can boast of having such award-winning pilots as Giacomo Agostini (15 world crowns), Valentino Rossi and Carlo Ubbiali (both with nine). But that’s motorcycling. In F1 they do not have a competitor of that level. Your champions are Alberto Ascari (two titles) and Giuseppe Farina (one). And both rose to prominence in the 1950s.
That is why there is so much expectation now with Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old young talent aims to be part of Mercedes in the post-Hamilton era. For this reason, in Italy they envision a glorious future in the premier category of motorsport. How far will this promise born on August 25, 2006 in Bologna go? Impossible to know, but hope is justified.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Well, Rossi has spoken out on the matter. The doctor He looks to the future and knows that the field of two wheels is wonderfully protected by the presence of Pecco Bagnaia, a driver from his Academy. The Ducati star is already a three-time world champion and is a clear favorite to renew his laurels in this same 2024 season. He is not first (the leader is Martinator), but he has taken off: He has won the last five races (two of them were in the Sprint).
Rossi’s hope
But Vale He wants his nation to shine in Formula 1 and to do so he trusts Antonelli. “Our country is strong in many sports, but today we need to be protagonists in F1. We haven’t had a winning Italian driver for years and I think Kimi (Antonelli) will be able to fill that void.. I’ve followed it since I was little and during the pandemic we started playing with racing simulators. Now he often comes to train with me and the others from the Academy in karts,” reveals the nine-time world champion in statements to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Giancarlo Fisichella He has been the latest star of the transalpine country. The one who was a companion of Fernando Alonso At Renault he has 3 victories, 19 podiums and 4 pole positions in the years he was part of the Great Circus.
The fact is that Rossi knows that MotoGP is well insured not only with Pecco (there they are Enea Bastianini or Marco Bezzecchi), but none of them are as media-friendly as he was. Not so charismatic. Logically, he remains to see where it goes Antonelli, but F1 is a brutal showcase. And if it’s as good as they say, rivers of ink will certainly flow. Time will tell.
