A child dressed in red. That’s how Antonio Giovinazzi remembers himself. An aspiring driver who every weekend traveled a thousand or more kilometers alongside his father to chase the dream of motorsport and becoming a Ferrari driver. A dream that became reality, taking him to Formula 1, the WEC, a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and much more. “But outside of racing,” Antonio says, “I’m a normal guy who loves spending time with friends.” Friends who, however, know a thing or two about competition.
How did your passion for motorsport start as a child in Martina Franca?
“It started the summer before I turned three: my father gave me a small kart, and when they started it for the first time I got scared and ran away. But the next day, once I calmed down, I went back to my father and said, ‘Now I’m ready.’ And I never got off that kart again.”
Did your parents always support you?
“If I’m here, it’s mostly thanks to them. My dad, despite working, would take me racing all over Italy on weekends: from Martina Franca, he drove a thousand kilometers to get to Castello di Branduzzo or Lonato, for races or even just practice. Those were years of sacrifice but also of dreams, trying to reach Formula 1.”
And then F1 really arrived: what do you remember most from those three years?
“There are so many memories I carry in my heart. The first test at Fiorano, my debut in Melbourne, my first points. F1 is a high-pressure environment and there were also many tough moments, but I always focused on thinking that even the hardest times were there to help me grow. The last races in F1 had made me lose a bit of my love for the sport, but when the WEC opportunity with Ferrari came, I fell in love again with what I do, thanks to a team that quickly became a family.”
You went from racing alone in single-seaters to sharing your Ferrari with two teammates in the WEC. Is it difficult to find balance?
“At first it’s strange: in karts, you get used to your teammate being your first rival. Here it’s the opposite, and it’s beautiful to share the emotions of long races like ours with the only people going through what you are experiencing.”
The common thread of all these experiences remains Ferrari: what does it mean to race for Maranello?
“For a child who grew up with this myth, wearing the colors of Maranello is an honor every day. It was my first dream: to become a Ferrari driver. And today that dream is reality. The pinnacle of pride was winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023, in the race’s centenary. There, after a day of tension, unforeseen events, rain and sun, twists and turns… winning with Ferrari was unmatched.”
This year, the stakes in the WEC have risen: what does it take to win the championship?
“Last year we learned many lessons in terms of mistakes and results, and this year we focused on consistency. We know there are no shortcuts and we must continue on our path; only then can we reach our goal: winning the title.”
It was Sergio Marchionne who wanted you at Maranello: what memory do you have?
“He wanted an Italian driver in F1, and he wanted him at Ferrari. It makes me very proud to think that I was chosen by him to carry the name of Italians high in F1. Marchionne gave me many chances, and I will be forever grateful; he was for me one of those people – like my father – who made an almost impossible dream a reality.”
Who is Antonio Giovinazzi off-track?
“A normal guy who enjoys spending time with family and friends. What drives me is competitiveness; otherwise, I’d be a very calm person. For me, every moment, even playing Xbox or doing sports with friends, becomes a battle to win.”
Also because with friends like Jannik Sinner and Giulio Ciccone, being competitive is easy. What do you like to do together?
“It was really the passion for competition that brought us together: we are three athletes with very similar values; none of us likes to lose. We like to challenge each other, but also motivate each other. We talk practically every day and follow each other’s sporting achievements. But outside of competition, we also share calm moments: spending time at home, having dinners, long conversations. We’re not party or club people.”
Do you challenge each other in your respective sports?
“Jannik and Giulio really like motorsport and cars. We challenge each other on the simulator, and both do quite well. I like giving advice. We’ve also gone cycling together, and there Giulio helps a bit. As for tennis, we’ve never played together; it’s a more technical sport and Jannik wouldn’t let us touch the ball.”
Will you take them on track too?
“We went karting together and we’re planning a test with a GT car. We’ve been talking about it for a long time, and they both want to try. Seeing how they handle the simulator, I’d say they’ll be strong there too.”
You got married in December 2024. How has your life changed?
“Not much, because Antonella and I have known each other for more than eight years, and from the moment I met her, I realized she was someone who could understand me. Finding someone who can accept what we do isn’t easy: you’re often away from home, far away, with a lot of pressure. Antonella has always supported me; even without coming to many races, she manages to be close to me from afar.”
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