Alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin celebrated in pure joy after Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest world champion in history, revealing she has been “yelling at the TV for him every race” since they met at the Miami Grand Prix this spring.
Antonelli, just 20 years and 68 days old, clinched the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with a third-place finish behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1. He became the youngest champion ever (beating Sebastian Vettel’s previous record by more than three years) and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Shiffrin, the most successful alpine skier of all time, posted immediately after the result:
“Met Kimi in Miami this spring thanks to @Barilla and I’ve been yelling at the TV for him every race since. WORLD CHAMPION!! Forza Kimi 🇮🇹🍝”
She added a playful invitation: “P.S. Kimi, there’s a seat on @wtpwithmikaela with your name on it whenever you’re ready.” (Her podcast What’s the Point.)
The connection began months earlier in Miami, where Shiffrin (fresh off Olympic gold in slalom at Milano Cortina) and fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde visited the paddock as guests of her sponsor Barilla. In a memorable moment, she draped her Olympic gold medal around the young Italian’s neck for photos. Antonelli went on to win that Miami race as part of an early-season dominance that included five straight victories.
From the slopes to the speedways, Shiffrin’s enthusiastic support has turned her into one of Antonelli’s most high-profile fans. The crossover moment—Olympic gold meeting F1’s newest youngest champion—has delighted fans across both sports, blending pasta emojis, Italian pride, and pure competitive excellence.
Forza Kimi, indeed.
