Andrea Kimi Antonelli earns place on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in sports. Antonelli’s rise continues as Time recognises him among sport’s most influential figures.

Everyone is talking about Antonelli

After sharing the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix podium with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was quick to urge the Italian media to remain measured in their praise of the young star.

“Don’t make too much noise about him over there in Italy. Let’s continue with a lot of humility,” the Austrian told Sky Italia following Antonelli’s latest success.

However, the popularity of the current Formula 1 world championship leader has already extended far beyond the boundaries of the sport itself and into mainstream public attention in Italy.

A glance at Monday morning’s newspaper front pages was enough to confirm the scale of the phenomenon. Major national publications such as Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Messaggero, Il Mattino, Il Giornale and Il Secolo XIX all devoted significant space on their front pages to Antonelli’s achievements, giving him coverage comparable to that dedicated to the Roland Garros tennis final.

Meanwhile, Italy’s leading sports newspapers — Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport and Quotidiano Sportivo — went even further, dedicating their entire front pages to Antonelli’s triumph in Monaco.

Now Time takes notice

The latest recognition arrived yesterday when Time unveiled its list of the 100 most influential people in sports for 2026. The publication divided the honourees into four categories: Icons, Titans, Innovators and Leaders.

Among the individuals selected in the Leaders category was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was praised as a driver who “continues to win and break new records.”

Time described him as “the 19-year-old Italian prodigy chosen to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes,” highlighting the remarkable impact he has made in his first full Formula 1 campaign.

Only two Formula 1 drivers featured

Antonelli was not the only Formula 1 representative on the list. The Icons category included 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris, who was recognised for his growing influence beyond motorsport.

According to Time, Norris is “transcending the world of racing,” thanks in part to his 1.8 million followers on Twitch and his strong connection with Generation Z fans.

Looking beyond Formula 1 and across the wider motorsport landscape, the list also featured NASCAR figures Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff, NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar, and Amna Al Qubaisi, who became the first woman to compete in the Pro category of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

For Antonelli, the recognition is another sign of how quickly his profile is growing. Already leading the Formula 1 world championship and attracting widespread attention both inside and outside the paddock, the young Italian is rapidly becoming one of the most influential figures in global motorsport.