As Motorsport.com Italia reports, Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed up at the Mercedes headquarters with his hair dyed in the green, white, and red of the Italian flag. The young driver from Bologna brought a wave of youth and hilarity to the team's world championship celebration.
Toto Wolff was left in disbelief upon seeing him, simply commenting that he had no words, while George Russell and the rest of the Mercedes team burst into loud laughter. The 20-year-old, fresh off becoming the F1 world champion, successfully followed through on his promise to color his hair in honor of his national flag.
Antonelli spoke to the more than one thousand people making up the team, which secured both the drivers' and constructors' titles well in advance. This lighthearted moment highlighted the contrast of a young talent who is hyper-professional on the track—racking up nine wins, sixteen podiums, seven pole positions, and eight fastest laps during the 2026 season—yet retains the playful spirit of a youth who loves to take life lightly.
Inside the cockpit of his W17, Kimi is methodical, resolute, and lightning fast, but away from the car he has quickly won over the world with a sincere smile once the helmet comes off. The traditional Brackley celebration, usually a solemn affair despite its informality, took an unconventional turn thanks to his free-spirited energy and contagious Italian flair.
Mercedes has now claimed its ninth constructors' title, putting the Star level with Williams, while Ferrari leads with 16 and McLaren sits on 10. Yet it took Kimi's first world crown to inject a completely fresh and unorthodox vibe into the team's festivities.
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