Iitalian fans have the reason to cheer the Mercedes driver at the Italian Grand Prix of the F1

• For the first time in a generation, Italy has its own in the F1 grid in the Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

• In Formula 1, Italy has no longer has a driver -finish on the podium since 2009.

• This year Jarno Trulli finished second in Suzuka.

Formula 1 this weekend returns to its European core landing, and the antiquated Imola racing route – who does the contract for F1 race after the race on Sunday – is usually with support for Ferrari.

The emblematic Italian manufacturer is not even the most local team -this honor belongs to racing bulls -but his Maranello campus is about an hour from Imola, and there is always a frenzied support for the red cars in Italy.

But this year his hopes not only depend on a team. For the first time in a generation, Italy has its own, and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who was still studying for his exams and was able to show some of his classmates on Thursday, has shown an insight into the talent that Mercedes has long since maintained.

Antonelli, who comes from the nearby Bologna, whose football team made the city in frenzy on Wednesday evening with winning the Coppa Italia tournament, is a solid sixth in the F1 constructor championship. Antonelli scored points in five of his six Grands Prix, including fourth in the debut in Melbourne.

His increase was supported by Mercedes, which produced its compliant and balanced car in the current regulatory cycle, but Antonelli has gradually made progress methodically and ripe. In Miami, Antonelli claimed the pole position despite no experience in the racetrack in the sprint -qualifying and pursued her with third place in the main qualification.

“It is certainly fantastic,” said Antonelli about the competition at Imola. “I think this is my right home race, because of course we also have Monza, but I live from the track for 30 minutes, so I would say that this is my right home race.

“I like the route, it is a challenging route, the old school, it is really fun to drive around. I have the feeling that the weekend will be a special one and raced from Italian fans, my family and my friends, it will be intensive but very excited to see what we can do.”

The strength of McLaren, Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Antonelli’s own teammate George Russell means that the path to silver is not easy, but it will not be long before the boy is firmly contradicted.

Italy has no more on the podium in Formula 1 in Formula 1 on the podium when Jarno Trulli finished second in Suzuka, and Antonelli is ambitious.

“Miami was a good step, sprint qualifiers and qualifications were good,” said Antonelli. “That definitely gave me a boost of confidence, the races didn’t go as we wanted, but it didn’t hurt my self -confidence.

“Now we are into the European season, with tracks that I know much better, the approach will be different, I can still concentrate a lot on it, but concentrate more on giving my engineers the best advice of the car to improve and develop myself further, so to start.

“Of course it would be surprising to get a podium, and that is certainly the goal of stepping on the podium and being the ultimate goal – of course I would like to win.