Italy enjoyed a perfect Sunday of sport as victories by Jannik Sinner in tennis and Kimi Antonelli in the Formula 1 China Grand Prix boosted national TV ratings.
March 15 was a day of celebration for Italians, featuring Sinner’s triumph in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 final and Kimi Antonelli’s first career win in Formula 1. Both athletes dominated newspaper headlines, and the excitement spilled over to television audiences, with significant increases in viewership for the China GP.
Sinner dedicates his win to Antonelli
The world number two in tennis dedicated his victory to Antonelli, writing “Bravo Kimi” on the broadcast camera. Meanwhile, the young Mercedes driver achieved his first Pole Position and first Formula 1 win over the same weekend, outperforming his teammate George Russell on both occasions.
Sky ratings soar thanks to Antonelli
Italian fans stayed glued to their screens to experience the thrill of seeing an Italian driver win in Formula 1 for the first time in twenty years. Ratings for the China GP increased despite the early morning broadcast and lingering doubts after the season-opening Australian GP.
The Shanghai race, aired from 8 a.m. on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport F1, and Sky Sport 4K, drew an average total audience of 1,190,000 viewers. The share reached 16.9%, with 1,709,000 unique contacts. While Ferrari started the 2026 season behind Mercedes, Antonelli reignited Italian fans’ passion, allowing them to hear their national anthem on the podium dedicated to a homegrown driver.
The post-race broadcast also reflected the public’s strong interest following car number 12’s historic victory. The post-race studio program averaged 699,000 viewers, while the delayed broadcast on TV8 at 2 p.m. attracted 1,419,000 viewers with a 10.6% TV share.
Jannik Sinner celebrates Antonelli
Long connected to Formula 1, Jannik Sinner also triumphed on the same day as his compatriot. While this was not Sinner’s first career win, he dedicated the victory to the young Mercedes driver at the conclusion of his match. Antonelli later thanked Sinner for the gesture, highlighting the bond between the two athletes.
The Italian sports Sunday on Sky was further enhanced by Sinner’s win over Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 final. The match was watched by over 1,000,000 viewers on average in total audience, achieving a 7.3% share and reaching 2,762,000 unique contacts.
This weekend proved that the appetite for Formula 1 in Italy remains incredibly high when there is a local protagonist to cheer for. As Antonelli continues his rookie campaign, the crossover appeal with stars like Sinner will likely keep the momentum going, solidifying a new era of sports enthusiasm across the country.
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