Kimi Antonelli receives standing ovation at San Siro during Italy-France match

A standing ovation at San Siro

Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver who has won the Formula 1 world championship, attended Italy's Nations League match against France at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Thursday, 12 November. Italy won 3-1. During the interval his face appeared on the stadium's giant screens and the public-address announcer called his name, prompting the crowd to rise and applaud. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) put attendance at more than 70,000. Visibly moved, Antonelli got to his feet, looked around the stands and was seen with wet eyes and a spontaneous 'wow'.

A shirt and a record

Before the ovation, the FIGC presented him with a personalised Italy shirt bearing his number and initials, handed over by Giovanni Malagò. Antonelli comes from Bologna and is 20 years old. According to AD, he became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in the sport's history in early November. La Razón reports that he clinched the title after finishing third at the Mexican Grand Prix, beating the youngest-champion record held by Sebastian Vettel. The same outlet says his title ended a 73-year gap without an Italian world champion, a gap that began with Alberto Ascari's titles in 1952 and 1953, and that he completed his final lap in tears. Notícias ao Minuto notes that he joined Mercedes at 18, taking over from Lewis Hamilton, and has won nine races this season, including a run of five straight wins between the Chinese and Monaco grands prix.

Family allowance at home

His mother, Verónica Pomaro, told La Repubblica that the family still gives Antonelli a monthly allowance, known as 'paga', within a budget he is expected to respect. She told him that if he spent it all before August, he would have to manage his own holidays. The family does not come from wealth, she said, and nothing is handed over without effort. His father, Marco, told the same newspaper that fame and money have barely changed him and that he still thinks of himself as someone who receives pocket money.

Next race

Antonelli is back in action next week at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday, 22 November, which Telegraaf gives as 05.00 Dutch time. Italy's win also keeps it in contention for the next round of the Nations League, AD reports. Telegraaf adds that the defeat was France's first under coach Zinedine Zidane, and that Italy had been absent from the last World Cup.