The striking makeover of Andrea Kimi Antonelli after becoming Formula 1 champion

The conquest of a world championship is often a reason for unforgettable celebrations, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli found a particular way to celebrate his crowning in the Formula 1. After becoming the new champion of the category and contributing to the Constructors' title of Mercedes, the Italian showed up at the team's headquarters in Brackley with a makeover that did not go unnoticed: he dyed his hair in the colors of his country's flag.

The striking appearance fulfilled a promise that the driver had made at the beginning of the 2026 season. Antonelli had assured that, if he managed to win the World Championship, he would dye his hair, with the option to choose between the Italian flag or the blue and red colors of Bologna, his hometown. In the end, he opted for green, white, and red.

The 20-year-old had already anticipated that he would keep his word after being crowned in the Mexican Grand Prix, but it was upon his arrival in Brackley that he surprised the entire team. There awaited him Toto Wolff, his teammate George Russell, and the members of Mercedes, who celebrated the conquest of the two crowns in a meeting with over a thousand workers from the team.

The reaction of the head of Mercedes was one of the great attractions of the moment. Wolff needed a few seconds to process the transformation of his driver and, amidst laughter, expressed: "I have no words...". Then, upon observing the result more closely, he jokingly asked: "Did you really pay for that?".

Russell also couldn't contain his laughter at his teammate's antics. In fact, Antonelli took the opportunity to return the joke and asked him: "Why don't you dye your hair with the colors of the Union Jack?", referring to the British flag. The English driver himself summed up his opinion with a phrase: "Well, come on… it's something".

Beyond the anecdote, the visit aimed to celebrate a historic season for the German team. Antonelli secured the drivers' championship in Mexico, where he finished third and became, at 20 years and 68 days, the youngest champion in the history of Formula 1. Additionally, he ended a wait of 73 years for an Italian to reclaim the title, since the crowning of Alberto Ascari in 1953.

A week later, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the results of the two drivers secured the Constructors' Championship for Mercedes. Russell finished fourth and Antonelli fifth, allowing the team to return to the top of that classification for the ninth time in its history.

Thus, the season ended with a double celebration for the Brackley team and with Antonelli as one of its great protagonists. On track, the Italian closed the year with nine victories, 16 podiums, seven poles, and eight fastest laps, while off the track, he once again showed his more spontaneous side with a promise that he ultimately decided to fulfill.