F1 champion Antonelli’s love for Bologna FC: from wannabe striker to Coppa Italia celebrations

Bologna have invited Kimi Antonelli to celebrate his Formula 1 world title with them, and the Mercedes driver’s love for the Rossoblù goes back to his childhood.

The 20-year-old from Bologna became the youngest world champion in F1 history in Mexico on Sunday, and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. His hometown club sent their congratulations and asked him to join them for the celebrations.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Antonelli once dreamed of a career in football. He played as a striker as a boy, but told Corriere della Sera it was less about technique than stamina. “I ran a lot on the pitch too. Let’s say I just ran,” he joked.

Antonelli’s Bologna connection

His father Marco took him to watch Bologna as a child, and he is still a regular at the Dall’Ara. He was in the stands for a 2-0 win over Como in February 2025. His first footballing idol, though, was Lionel Messi, which made him a Barcelona fan during the Argentine’s peak years.

When Bologna beat Milan to win the Coppa Italia in May 2025, ending a 51-year wait for the trophy, Antonelli was preparing for the Imola Grand Prix and couldn’t get to Rome. He joined the celebrations in the streets of Bologna instead.

That same weekend, a delegation led by then-coach Vincenzo Italiano and captain Lorenzo De Silvestri visited him in the Imola paddock. They gave him a signed Bologna shirt, and he returned the favour with a Mercedes one.