The young Italian athletics star Mattia Furlani – fresh from winning the world title in the long jump and already enjoying a highly successful 2025 season – has recently revealed a lesser-known side of his personality: a deep passion for Formula 1. In a recent interview, Furlani explained how the speed, intensity and adrenaline of F1 fuel his motivation and inspire him during training and competition, proving that elite sporting passion can extend well beyond the boundaries of a single discipline.
From athlete to fan: how Formula 1 inspires him
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mattia Furlani admitted that some of his Christmas presents were Formula 1-themed, including model cars and video games, clear signs of his growing interest in motorsport. “Speed excites me,” he said, explaining how watching races and following the journeys of Formula 1 drivers gives him positive energy and extra motivation.
The Italian long jumper also revealed that he is a fan of Kimi Antonelli, one of the most exciting young talents in the Formula 1 paddock. The two often exchange messages and compliments, highlighting a genuine bond between athletes from different worlds who share the same competitive mindset. For Mattia Furlani, following Formula 1 is also a way to mentally switch off from intense training sessions, while still keeping his focus sharp on the main goals of his season.
Lessons from the racetrack applied to the long jump runway
Furlani draws several lessons from Formula 1 that he applies directly to his athletic preparation. Discipline, pressure management and the constant search for small areas of improvement are all concepts he recognises from Grand Prix weekends. Just as in Formula 1 a tenth of a second can decide the outcome of a race, in the long jump every centimetre matters, making attention to detail absolutely crucial.
The mindset of Formula 1 drivers – teamwork, meticulous preparation and mental clarity in decisive moments – encourages Mattia Furlani to adopt an equally rigorous approach in his training programmes and competitions. The fast-paced nature of racing, combined with complex strategies and high-pressure scenarios, offers him a “mental training ground” where he can sharpen focus and resilience, qualities that often make the difference at the highest level of athletics.
While on the runway Mattia Furlani is targeting jumps beyond 8.50 metres and aiming even higher in the 2026 season, in the virtual paddock of Formula 1 he finds constant inspiration that follows him beyond the sandpit and into his daily routine as a champion.
The crossover between Mattia Furlani’s world-record ambitions and his admiration for Kimi Antonelli highlights how the high-pressure environment of Formula 1 serves as a blueprint for success across all elite sports. By adopting the meticulous, detail-oriented mindset of a Grand Prix driver, Furlani is not just watching the races for entertainment, but is actively using the world of motorsport to sharpen the competitive edge needed to remain at the pinnacle of global athletics.
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