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Youngest F1 champion Antonelli reflects on Senna’s influence

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In short

Kimi Antonelli credited Ayrton Senna's enduring legacy as a primary guide for his approach to racing after becoming the youngest titleholder in the sport's history. Before racing in Brazil, the 20-year-old paid his respects at Senna's grave, met with the late icon's family, and sat inside Senna's historic 1986 Lotus cockpit. He also highlighted his 2025 second-place finish at Interlagos as a critical moment that rebuilt his self-belief during a difficult career stretch. Moving forward, the young champion intends to stay grounded while pushing to secure as many future victories as possible.

Key points

  • Ayrton Senna's dedication and talent serve as foundational benchmarks for the sport's new…: Ayrton Senna's dedication and talent serve as foundational benchmarks for the sport's newest and youngest world champion.
  • Sebastian Vettel reached out with personal advice urging the newly crowned champion to re…: Sebastian Vettel reached out with personal advice urging the newly crowned champion to remain grounded amidst life-changing success.
  • A strong second-place result at Interlagos in 2025 served as the turning point that resto…: A strong second-place result at Interlagos in 2025 served as the turning point that restored Antonelli's winning confidence.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

SAO PAULO, Nov 4 : Newly crowned Formula One world champion Kimi Antonelli paid tribute to his childhood hero Ayrton Senna on Wednesday, saying the late Brazilian's talent and dedication would continue to influence his approach to the sport after becoming the youngest driver to win the title.

The 20-year-old Italian, who clinched the title with a third-place finish in Mexico on Sunday, spent time with members of Senna's family ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He also sat in the cockpit of the Brazilian great's 1986 Lotus and visited his grave for the second year in a row.

"Definitely the driver he was, he was incredible," Antonelli told Reuters on the sidelines of a Petronas event in Sao Paulo.

"But as well, his work ethic, his attitude, how dedicated and how much passion he had for the sport. Then the person he was, very empathetic, someone who was trying to give back what he was receiving.

"All these things are the ones that caught my attention when I was a kid and that's why I got inspired…

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