Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli's two wins and championship lead have already rekindled interest in racing among young Italians.
Kimi Antonelli first drove a Formula 1 car two years ago at the Red Bull Ring in a wet Mercedes test, and Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, placed Antonelli directly into a Silver Arrows seat after Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, left the team.
Stefano Domenicali said he is seeing children in karting name Kimi Antonelli as their favourite driver and noted his own 2006-born daughter is following Antonelli's season; he described Antonelli as "fresh blood" and a strong role model.
Domenicali added that the attention around Kimi Antonelli is "fantastic" for Italy and could inspire a new generation, while also saying it is too early to judge the long-term legacy.
This report is based on information originally published by Motorsport.
Read the full article at Motorsport.
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