Ferrari: Remembering Alberto Antonini at 2023 F1 Christmas lunch. Ferrari started the traditional Christmas lunch with a moment of silence in memory of Alberto Antonini.

The Scuderia has been the target of harsh criticism on social media for the brand’s silence on the untimely passing of Alberto, who, from 2014 to 2019, was responsible for the team’s communication. However, a tribute had been reserved at the beginning of the traditional year-end meeting with journalists covering Formula 1.

The premature departure of Alberto Antonini has affected not only the glamorous world of Formula 1, as condolences quickly extended to racing enthusiasts who over the years had come to appreciate his stories on Autosprint, TV commentary on Sky, and had seen him for five years in the Scuderia uniform as the head of communication before he resumed his storytelling on FormulaPassion. If anyone wanted to gauge the esteem and affection that Alberto had earned, all they had to do was take a look at social media.

However, the silence of Ferrari on social media did not go unnoticed. This silence became the subject of heavy criticism and controversy for the absence of any expression of solidarity for a colleague who had worn the Prancing Horse shirt from 2014 to 2019.

In reality, Roberto Boccafogli, head of the Racing Department communication, opened the traditional Christmas lunch that the Scuderia organizes every year with journalists covering Formula 1 to observe a moment of silence in memory of Alberto, to share with those who had been able to appreciate his human and professional qualities on the field.

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It was a touching and emotionally powerful moment that preceded the long chat with Fred Vasseur. The embargo, which had been set to allow newspapers to coincide with online sites, unfortunately prolonged the silence, but the condolences of the Prancing Horse were expressed at that moment and would be extended to friends and fans.

Certainly, there could have been a tribute on official accounts, but it cannot be said that Antonini was… forgotten. The final farewell to Alberto will take place on Tuesday, December 19, at the mortuary of Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna from 9:30 to 11:00.