Giancarlo Fisichella carried the mantle for Italian drivers in Formula 1 from the mid-nineties through to the late noughties. He won three races in that time and was the last Italian to win a Grand Prix until Kimi Antonelli ripped up the record books at the start of 2026.<\/p>\n
However, the 53-year-old \u2013 who took victory in Malaysia back in 2006<\/a> \u2013 is not remotely disheartened to have been replaced in that regard, instead rejoicing in his young countryman\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n \u201cI will say \u2018finally!\u2019\u201d explained Fisichella to Tom Clarkson on Beyond The Grid<\/a>. \u201cI’m happy about that because 20 years is too long.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, the last Italian winner of a Grand Prix was myself 20 years ago, and now this year, with Kimi, this is done.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I’m really happy about what he’s doing so far. He is so clever. He’s so quick. And he won five races, five pole positions in a row. This is something amazing.<\/p>\n \u201cI won three races in my life, in 231 Grands Prix. And he won already five races in just less than 30 races of his career. So, this is just great.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonelli<\/a>\u2019s winning run began in China, and he went on to stand on the top step in Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco. He won his first three races from pole too, to set another record<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although that run has since ended, reliability woes wrecking his chances in Barcelona-Catalunya and Great Britain, while he was out-performed by his team mate in Austria, Antonelli remains in the lead of the Drivers\u2019 Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n That lead has been reduced though \u2013 at one point standing at an impressive 61 points \u2013 and is now down to just 25 over George Russell<\/a>. But Fisichella remains confident that Antonelli has a real shot at becoming the youngest ever F1 World Champion.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he’s got a chance,\u201d said Fisichella. \u201cHe needs to think just race by race. Not taking too much pressure. Concentrate like he drove, in the last couple of races, and, and they can he can fight for the championship. I’m sure.<\/p>\n \u201cKimi, his face, he looks like a baby, but, when, when he closed the visor, a completely different, story.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonelli\u2019s rise this year has been incredible, displaying the consistency and raw speed that appeared to allude him in his debut season in 2025, causing some to question if he\u2019d been promoted to quickly \u2013 despite recording three podiums in his rookie season.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first [FP1] ever, he was in Monza two years ago and he crashed the car. So, it wasn’t a good start,\u201d joked Fisichella.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then last year, he was a bit up and down with some mistakes with not good performances. But I think this year, with the experience of last year, especially with a good car now \u2013 he is very confident and he’s very comfortable in the car.\u201d<\/p>\n The last Italian to win the Drivers\u2019 Championship was Alberto Ascari<\/a> back in 1953 \u2013 something Fisichella is keen to see change.<\/p>\n Asked if Italy \u2013 home of Ferrari, famed for the tifosi \u2013 has missed having an Italian race winner, Fisichella responded: \u201cYeah, a lot. Not just a single race [winner], but also the World Championship [winner]. I don\u2019t remember when, 70, 80 years? It\u2019s too much!\u201d<\/p>\n