What did Antonelli do last weekend? It is unusual that no one has told the stories of the world championship leader in the very last days, after for a couple of months, and with full justification, Andrea Kimi has been in the eye of the storm, chased by cameras, phones, and objectives. Finally Antonelli should – we hypothesize – have enjoyed a few days of full freedom, alone or with whoever he wanted, without the hassle of having to answer questions and without smiling out of courtesy.
His real problem today is represented by his kindness and/or availability, which make him an atypical figure in the microcosm of Formula 1. He, Leclerc, Sainz and a few others never back down due to an innate predisposition to politeness and closeness to people. A nice thing full of pitfalls, if not managed sparingly. Toto Wolff, in these weeks, has repeatedly said he fears the invasiveness of Italians towards a new idol, already loved, who has the natural tendency to give himself, to show a human face that pleases and generates esteem, tenderness, affection. This had not happened for a very long time, there was a desire to identify with a positive character even in the often cold panorama of Formula 1.
Antonelli, with his slight, somewhat disarming smile, knows how to be loved. But Toto Wolff can rest assured: car racing fandom, here, is not as oppressive as football fandom. Maybe it will become so if Andrea Kimi continues to dominate as hoped, but not guaranteed. In some way, he has already won his world championship regardless, because before the championship started no one could have bet on three wins in the second F1 season. What will come from Canada onwards will already be a bonus, even if haters are always ready to strike anyone at the first stumble or setback.
This is not what Antonelli should fear, although expectations are growing, because the mere fact that Wolff worries about protecting him from excessive clamour is proof of the respect he has earned at Mercedes, where everyone has understood that he is the man (!) to bet on for the future. A bet won for Toto, with the same Mercedes executives who were ready to overwhelm him with criticism, in case of failure of the operation.
Antonelli, however, must take into account that he floats in a Ferrari context in which, subtly, he is considered an “enemy”. There is a red tradition in our country that cannot be escaped. Riccardo Patrese was unfairly booed in 1983, when with full merit he was winning the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola and by a twist of fate went off track, leaving the victory to Tambay and Ferrari. TV audiences and other media indices say that Andrea Kimi’s triumphs do not yet count, numerically, as those of the Prancing Horse. It may be a matter of time. On the other hand, many wonder why Antonelli is not behind the wheel of a Ferrari. And in that case it must be admitted his real luck was precisely not ending up in Maranello’s orbit (no one, at the time, guessed his value), because today he would find himself in some endurance maze or relegated to an obscure job at the simulator.
Imagine then what phenomenon would have occurred if an Italian, on Ferrari, had won three consecutive grands prix: Antonelli would have had no escape, he would have had to take refuge who knows where, to have a moment of peace. The fact that he drives a Mercedes, beyond the great prestige, instead protects him from a wave of excesses and exaggerations. The important thing for him is that now he can continue to carve out moments of tranquility, silence, normal hobbies with normal people and that he gradually begins to dose his appearances (also social) only to what is absolutely necessary for work or for occasions driven by the heart. In some way, he should imitate his friend-fan Jannick Sinner, who knows how to manage distances without giving up spontaneity and kindness. Antonelli must protect himself and be protected with the same courtesy with which he has offered himself so far: sacrifices, essential for those who have a beautiful future ahead.
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