Kimi Antonelli dedicated his Miami Grand Prix triumph to the late Alex Zanardi, the former Formula 1 driver who passed away on Friday at the age of 59. The 19-year-old Italian, driving for Mercedes, said after securing his third consecutive win of the season: “This victory is for Alex. I was very sad when I heard the news of his death. He was a good friend of my family. I wanted to win for him.”
Zanardi hailed from Bologna, a city in northern Italy located just an hour from the famous Imola circuit and also the birthplace of Antonelli. A racing driver in the 1990s, Zanardi launched a new sporting career after losing both legs in a 2001 accident, going on to win four Paralympic gold medals in cycling at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. He was one of Italy’s most beloved and respected athletes, credited with helping transform perceptions of disability in the country.
“He was a brave and inspiring person, given everything he had been through in his life, never giving up. He was truly a role model for me,” Antonelli said, referring to Zanardi’s resilience. The Miami Grand Prix observed a minute of silence in memory of Zanardi before Saturday’s sprint race. With this win, Antonelli became the youngest-ever leader in Formula 1 history.