Italian motorsport is enjoying a new golden age. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is preparing to arrive at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix as the championship leader, supported by six victories this season, while Ferrari has returned to winning after more than a year and a half through Lewis Hamilton and then Charles Leclerc.
This renewed enthusiasm coincides with Geronimo La Russa’s first six months as president of the Automobile Club d’Italia. As the head of Italy’s national motorsport federation, Geronimo La Russa is seeking to strengthen the country’s international influence, secure Monza’s long-term future and increase investment in road safety and the education of younger generations.
Kimi Antonelli leads Italy’s motorsport revival
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s performances have transformed the atmosphere surrounding Italian motorsport. The Mercedes driver leads the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship after claiming six victories during the opening half of the season and will head to Monza as one of the central figures in the title fight.
The Italian’s rise has had an impact far beyond Formula 1 results. The wider Kimi Antonelli effect on Italian motorsport has helped increase public interest, participation and enthusiasm at a time when Ferrari has also returned to the top step of the podium.
Major figures have acknowledged the significance of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s success. Valentino Rossi has described the Mercedes driver’s emergence as “very special” for Italy, while Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has praised the championship leader as “a breath of fresh air” for the sport.
Italy returns to the FIA World Motor Sport Council
One of the most significant international achievements of Geronimo La Russa’s opening months in office has been his election to the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the organisation responsible for defining many of the technical and sporting rules used across international motorsport.
The appointment marks Italy’s return to one of the FIA’s highest decision-making bodies after an absence of four years.
“Bringing the Italian flag back to the places where the most important decisions are made is an achievement that strengthens our country’s role,” Geronimo La Russa said.
The position gives Italy a direct presence within a body that influences the future direction of international racing. Strengthening that representation is a central part of the ACI president’s wider objective of increasing the authority and credibility of Italian motorsport institutions.
Second phase of Monza redevelopment approved
Another major element of the ACI programme concerns the long-term future of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Approval has been granted for the second phase of the circuit’s modernisation work, with several projects designed to improve its infrastructure, services and ability to welcome teams, media and spectators.
The planned developments include a new Media Centre, a permanent roof for the pit building and a new Race Control facility. The investment is intended to ensure that the Temple of Speed continues to meet the highest standards required by Formula 1 and other major international championships.
The programme has been further strengthened by the extension of ACI’s concession to operate the circuit until 2044, giving the organisation the stability required to plan and fund long-term improvements.
“It is something we had pursued for a long time and was absolutely not guaranteed,” Geronimo La Russa explained. “Stability is the necessary condition for continuing to invest.
“The extension of the concession allows us to plan for the future with a long-term vision, making Monza increasingly modern, safe and competitive.”
Monza will also become an important focal point for the Formula 1 championship battle when Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives as the home driver and championship leader. Mercedes must still make a significant decision over Antonelli’s Monza weekend, while Ferrari is preparing its own developments for its home Grand Prix.
The Maranello team has intensified reliability testing ahead of a planned Ferrari engine upgrade for Monza, adding another major storyline to the Italian Grand Prix.
Monza to host the 2026 FIA WEC season finale
Progress has also been achieved on the sporting front, with Monza selected to host the final round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The return of the world championship to the historic circuit reinforces Monza’s position as one of the leading venues in international motorsport.
“These achievements confirm the credibility that ACI and Monza have built with the international sporting institutions,” Geronimo La Russa said.
The event will give Italian fans another major international race at the Temple of Speed while strengthening the circuit’s calendar beyond Formula 1. It also reflects ACI’s ambition to establish Monza as a year-round home for several of the world’s most important racing categories.
Italian racing championships continue to grow
Alongside international events, Geronimo La Russa has also highlighted the growth of ACI’s domestic sporting activity. This is represented by the leading Italian championships across several forms of motorsport, including the ACI Racing Weekends, the Italian ACI Karting Championship and the Italian Absolute Rally Championship.
The latter produced another major event in Piedmont, where 131 crews competed on the roads of the Langhe during the 20th edition of the Rally Regione Piemonte.
The rally demonstrated the close relationship between motorsport and its surrounding territory. The event involved 44 municipalities across the provinces of Cuneo and Asti and generated an estimated economic impact of approximately €8 million, according to a study by the University of Turin.
“Motorsport is going through a positive phase,” Geronimo La Russa said. “The championships are growing, public interest is increasing and participation from drivers and teams is rising.
“Our objective is to continue investing in the grassroots system and in young Italian talent. An important contribution to that will come from the new ACI Sport director, Mario Isola.”
ACI invests in road-safety education for young people
The assessment of Geronimo La Russa’s first six months does not focus exclusively on competitive motorsport. One of the most significant developments has been an agreement with Italy’s Ministry of Education to strengthen road-safety programmes in schools.
The “Together for Road Safety” initiative involved hundreds of students and represents one of the first stages of a partnership that is expected to develop further over the coming years.
The programme combines classroom education with practical experiences intended to help younger people understand responsible mobility, the importance of respecting traffic rules and the consequences of dangerous behaviour on public roads.
“Investing in the education of younger generations is a commitment that we consider just as strategic as organising major sporting events,” Geronimo La Russa concluded.
From Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 title challenge to Monza’s redevelopment, Italy’s return to the FIA World Motor Sport Council and expanding road-safety programmes, ACI’s objective is to ensure that the country’s current motorsport momentum produces lasting sporting, institutional and social benefits.
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