The weekend that could crown the Italian Formula 1 world champion begins in Austin
He is about to become world champion at just over twenty years old and yet Andrea Kimi Antonelli he doesn’t give up the lightheartedness of his age and even in the days preceding the grand prix that could make him world champion (difficult but not impossible) he allowed himself moments of fun. Earlier when visited the San Antonio Spurs, chatting with NBA basketball champions and then when he mentioned the moonwalk (a dance step) with cowboy boots demonstrating that we know how to do it. Kimi is becoming a world-class figure as demonstrated by the auction to acquire a figurine with his image: The unique and extremely rare piece is a 2025 cardthe Topps Chrome F1 Autographs, autographed and produced in a single example, certified Psa Gem Mint 10, the highest level of conservation assigned by the Professional Sports Authenticator. The SuperFractor 1/1 format, which makes it a unique piece in the world, combined with the driver’s signature, has created a real duel between high-level collectors, ready to compete for what is considered the most historically relevant collector’s card of Italian talent. Starting bid $50,000 and after 34 raises It was assigned to an anonymous collectorr $720,000 ci must be added here 154,000 commission of the auction house for a total of almost $900,000. According to Sports Illustrated, which reports Card Ladder data, the sale represents the second-highest publicly recorded transaction for a Formula 1 card. The record in the auctions remains with the 2020 SuperFractor Lewis Hamiltonsold by Goldin for $900,000 in May 2022.
Concentrated
Kimi chose to reach the United States well in advance to calmly make up for the time difference and is in no hurry to win the world championship he now has in his hands, but in Austin he only has victory on his mind: “Something catastrophic should happen to the others and I should have a perfect weekend. It is unlikely to happen but anything can happen” Kimi prefers to focus on the track: “This morning we spoke with the team and we told ourselves to have fun and take one race at a time,” he said. The prospect remains extraordinary: “It would be an incredible achievement because it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. I have to keep pushing because it’s not over and there’s still a way to go.”
