Is Ferrari fever still as strong as ever? Or has Kimi Antonelli divided the hearts of Italian fans? Standing in the commentary box at Montmeló, Carlo Vanzini summed up the moment live on television: “It’s emotion, it’s adrenaline. In two words: Lewis Hamilton,” as the British driver secured his first victory in Ferrari colours.
“For six races now, we’ve only been telling positive stories,” Carlo Vanzini said. “Today it’s Hamilton, who achieved something epic, something legendary. Before that, Antonelli was making people dream. And yet, in the motorhome, they joke with us and ask: ‘Don’t you watch the World Cup?’ The reality is that for six consecutive races, the Italian national anthem has been played either for a driver or for a team.”
They are small moments of satisfaction for someone who has become increasingly detached from football. In Formula 1, however, the passion has doubled and become more divided.
“Whenever I speak with fans, the first question is always about Ferrari,” Vanzini explained. “But unlike in the past, when supporters could be extremely harsh toward an Italian driver who wasn’t wearing red, I still remember the boos directed at Riccardo Patrese. With Kimi Antonelli, there is unconditional affection. If Ferrari doesn’t win, people are happy if he does.”
For Carlo Vanzini personally, calling Lewis Hamilton’s victory was an especially emotional experience. The two share a connection that stretches back nearly two decades.
“For me, narrating that win was something special. I joined Sky in 2007, which was Hamilton’s first season in Formula 1. I’ve followed and commentated on his entire career. There is a strong connection there. He has experienced incredible highs and very difficult lows, just as I have over the past year. He has ‘Still I rise’ tattooed on his body. I rise again too. He did it. And so did I. I see myself in that.”
The reason those words carry such weight is that last summer the commentator discovered he had pancreatic cancer and had to undergo treatment while facing one of the toughest challenges of his life.
“When I raise my voice during a race, it’s because I genuinely feel the emotion,” Carlo Vanzini said. “And now I do it with even greater intensity. I experience everything as if it were happening for the first time again. I enjoy being back in the paddock. It feels like a new chapter. Every day is a day earned, an extra day, and that gives a different value to everything around you.”
“I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Many things that once seemed important no longer carry the same weight. I do a job that I love, one that excites me just as much as it did on my first day—perhaps even more now. I don’t see myself as the voice of Formula 1, and I don’t consider myself famous. I simply feel fortunate to be here telling these stories.”
And it is easy to see how much he enjoys every moment, approaching each race with spontaneity and enthusiasm. His television colleague Marc Gené recently shared a video of the final lap in Barcelona, showing Vanzini standing and delivering an emotional commentary as the Briton drove toward the chequered flag.
“Marc likes to catch me off guard,” Vanzini joked. “I care a lot about him. At this point, we’re practically a married couple.”
Just like the pairing currently capturing the imagination of Italian fans: Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. The youngest driver on the grid and one of the most experienced, friends who now find themselves sharing the spotlight and dividing supporters.
How will the story unfold?
“I would love to see Antonelli and Ferrari still fighting each other by the time we get to Monza,” Vanzini said. “That’s when we could truly enjoy it. Mercedes still holds a considerable advantage, but I genuinely believe Kimi has the opportunity to write a remarkable chapter in Formula 1 history.”
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