Kimi Antonelli joined the ranks of athletes who have had the privilege of carrying the Olympic flame, taking part in a special journey that highlighted both his status in Formula 1 and his connection to Italy.
Antonelli beyond Formula 1
Just days after the launch of the Mercedes W17 and only two days before the pre-season tests in Barcelona, the young Italian driver returned to Italy for a unique event: to carry the Olympic flame along a segment of its route.
The busy days of Antonelli
Antonelli carried the Olympic flame in Palmanova, a symbolic city in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, renowned for its star-shaped city plan and historical significance, making it a perfect stage for a nationally meaningful event.
On January 22, Mercedes had officially unveiled their 2026 livery. Immediately after, the 2006-born driver, alongside George Russell, took part in the first on-track tests of the new W17 at Silverstone.
Just two days later, Antonelli’s return to Italy to serve as torchbearer represented a moment of immense pride, both personally and collectively. Carrying the Olympic flame symbolizes values such as passion, dedication, and sacrifice—principles that Antonelli experiences daily in his work on the track.
However, the racing calendar leaves no time for breaks. In just two more days, the young driver will fly abroad again, this time to Spain, to participate in private pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
This marks the first step of a season that will keep Antonelli fully engaged for the remainder of the year. In the meantime, the Italian driver was able to enjoy the prestigious honor of being an Olympic torchbearer, a moment captured in the images below.
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