Ben Sulayem urges Antonelli to stay true to himself after title

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has urged Kimi Antonelli to remain unchanged after the Mercedes driver secured the Formula 1 title at last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix. In a social media message, Ben Sulayem praised the new champion’s response to pressure and said he was moved by the achievement.

Antonelli, 20, became Formula 1’s youngest champion and Italy’s first title winner in 73 years. Ben Sulayem’s message focused not only on the result, but on the qualities he believes have stayed consistent through the driver’s rise.

Ben Sulayem praises Antonelli’s response to pressure

The FIA president said he had seen Antonelli handle pressure and stress without complaining. He congratulated the driver and described the achievement as extraordinary, before making a personal request: that success should not change him.

Ben Sulayem recalled signing Antonelli’s first super licence last year and asked him to remain the same person he was then. He also extended his congratulations to Antonelli’s family and team, adding that many people were pleased to see him win the championship.

The message offered a personal note from the head of the governing body, who has led the FIA since 2021. Its central point was simple: Antonelli should carry the same character into his new status as champion.

Antonelli’s title brings a rare second-season achievement

The championship also places Antonelli in a select group of drivers who have won the title in their second season. He joins Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton in that distinction, with Juan Manuel Fangio excluded from the comparison because he claimed his first crown in the championship’s second year, in 1951.

The scale of the achievement is reflected in the records attached to Antonelli’s title. The milestone has also prompted discussion of his prospects, including Kimi Räikkönen’s backing of Antonelli as a potential youngest champion.

For Ben Sulayem, however, the message went beyond records. He praised the new champion’s conduct under pressure and asked him to keep the same approach as he moves forward with the title, thanking him for making the achievement happen.