The victory effect multiplies the Italian driver’s transactions: caps went from 125 to 467 euros in two weeks.
The silver marker runs quickly on the polycarbonate visor, leaving the unmistakable mark of Kimi Antonelli before the roar of the engines gives way to the euphoria of triumph. At just twenty years old, the Italian driver rewrote the history of Formula 1 by winning the world title and igniting a real collective frenzy among fans and enthusiasts. It’s not just about celebrating a sporting victory on the podium: an memorabilia hunt has begun for motor lovers to hold an intact fragment of this world championship moment in their hands.
The effect of the triumph is measured directly in the market numbers. On the Catawiki platform, sales of objects linked to Italian talent increased more than twelvefold in 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, with the average value of lots rising by almost 20%.. A relentless thermometer of how successes on the track change the perception of accessories: two completely comparable autographed caps went, just fourteen days apart, from a price of 125 euros before the victory to 467 euros immediately after winning the championship, achieving a leap of more than 270%.
The value of history before the definitive consecration
The rush for these pieces reflects a trend that cuts across contemporary sports collecting. In fact, the greatest interest is concentrated on the testimonies of the beginning, when the destiny of an athlete is not yet engraved in the rolls of honor. A similar script occurred in football Yamal laminaewhose 2024 Spanish national team shirt was sold on 23 July 2026 for 2,053 euros. The same pattern had already been seen in Formula 1 with Max Verstappen: in 2020 one of his signed caps was sold for 144 euros, only to then see a similar item skyrocket to 410 euros the day after his first world title in 2021.
“The most fascinating aspect of sports memorabilia is how quickly a big victory can change collectors’ perception of an object,” he explains Marc Jansindustry expert for the marketplace.
The dynamic captures that exact moment in which the promise transforms into certainty.
“Before an important success, the objects of the beginning represent the potential of an athlete,” continues Marc Jans. “After winning the first great title, those same objects become part of the history of sport. We saw it with Max Verstappen and now with Antonelli”.
The forty lots up for auction include rare visors, suits and helmets
To celebrate the driver’s achievement, the special auction entitled “Kimi Antonelli World Champion 2026” was organized from 2 to 10 November 2026, accessible directly on catawiki.com. The sale brings together 40 exclusive pieces that retrace the rise of the new champion, offering original accessories and memorabilia linked to legendary Grands Prix such as Monza, Monaco, Japan and China, up to paddock passes and racing gloves.
Among the most disputed objects, the original visor stands out Bell of the 2026 season with FIA hologram and silver signature of the driver, with an estimate of 1,700 euros. Similar figure for running shoes Puma Speedcat Pro numbered limited edition, designed according to the team’s specifications Mercedes and embellished with two autographs by Antonelli. Completing the top pieces is the 1:2 scale helmet from the 2026 season signed with a permanent marker on the visor, donated to an important guest of the team and never marketed, estimated at around 900 euros.
“Although no one can predict their future value”, concludes Marc Jans, “collecting objects linked to emerging talents offers the opportunity to own a piece of their history, before we even know how far they can go”.
A signature on a visor is no longer just synthetic ink, but the tangible imprint of the birth of a new motorsport legend.
