From the streets of Bologna to the summit of Formula 1, Kimi Antonelli's rise is being told by the people who watched it begin.
Formula 1 has a new world champion, and his story starts in Bologna. Kimi Antonelli has gone from local kid with a big dream to history maker, and the people who knew him before the fame are the ones telling it best.
In Bologna, the Antonelli story isn't about a distant superstar. It's about a boy they saw growing up, a young racer whose talent was obvious early and whose hunger never faded. Neighbours, friends and locals have followed every step, from the first karting ambitions to the biggest stage in motorsport.
His rise was fast by any standard. Antonelli was identified as a prodigy early, backed by Mercedes, and thrown into the deep end of F1 while still a teenager. Many young drivers have been called the next big thing. Few have turned that hype into a world title.
Now the city that shaped him is celebrating a champion of its own. For Bologna, this is more than a trophy. It's proof that a global crown can begin in a hometown, with a kid who refused to lift his foot.
