Emerson Fittipaldi believes Kimi Antonelli has fully earned the Formula 1 title he is now closing in on, dismissing suggestions that the Mercedes driver’s dominant 2026 campaign has been built on good fortune. The two-time world champion argued that Antonelli has instead created his own luck through the consistency and quality of his performances.
The championship could also mark a historic moment for Italy. Antonelli is on the verge of ending a wait for an Italian Formula 1 world champion that stretches back to Alberto Ascari’s second title with Ferrari in 1953.
Kimi Antonelli closes in on historic F1 title
The countdown is now well underway. Italy is close to ending a 73-year wait for another Formula 1 world champion.
Alberto Ascari was the last Italian driver to win the title, securing his second and final World Championship with Ferrari in 1953 after also triumphing in 1952.
No Italian driver has reached the top of Formula 1 since then, but Kimi Antonelli is now in position to break that long drought.
The Mercedes driver, born in 2006 and competing in only his second Formula 1 season, has largely dominated the 2026 campaign and could mathematically secure the championship at the United States Grand Prix with five races still remaining.
Fittipaldi says Antonelli’s title would be fully deserved
Emerson Fittipaldi believes there should be little debate over whether Antonelli deserves the championship.
“It is clear now that he will win the World Championship,” Fittipaldi told Betway. “And it is very important for Italy because they have not had a world champion since 1953.”
The Brazilian believes the achievement would trigger huge celebrations among Italian Formula 1 fans even though Antonelli is racing for Mercedes rather than Ferrari.
“The Italian fans will go crazy even though it will not be a Ferrari victory.”
‘Antonelli created his own luck’
Fittipaldi also addressed suggestions that Antonelli has benefited from favourable circumstances during his title campaign.
“Antonelli often lucky? He created his own luck,” the two-time world champion said. “He has done very well from the beginning of the season and he has known how to make sure that all the circumstances worked in his favour.”
For Fittipaldi, that ability is part of what has made Antonelli’s 2026 campaign so convincing. Rather than simply benefiting from events around him, the Mercedes driver has consistently put himself in position to take advantage when opportunities have appeared.
With the United States Grand Prix approaching, Antonelli is now within reach of one of the most significant achievements in recent Italian motorsport history: becoming the country’s first Formula 1 world champion since Ascari more than seven decades ago.
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