The Antonelli Effect: Italy's Sports Fever and the Fading of Ferrari's Grip The sudden rise of 19 year old Kimi Antonelli in the Formula 1 Driver's Championship has sent shockwaves throughout Italy, where sports fans are normally obsessed with football.
With a whopping 20 point lead over teammate George Russell, it's clear that Italy's sporting landscape is undergoing a seismic shift.
Italian national football teams' absence from this summer's World Cup has created a vacuum in public attention, which Antonelli and tennis sensation Jannik Sinner are more than happy to fill.