Jun.19 (GMM) Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli could soon receive an audience with Pope Leo XIV.
According to Corriere dello Sport, discussions are underway for a meeting between the 19-year-old Mercedes driver and the new pontiff.
“The Vatican is confident that Leo XIV will soon grant an audience to the young leader of the Formula 1 World Championship,” the Italian newspaper reported.
The report said Antonelli views the Pope as a source of inspiration, citing values of faith and solidarity often associated with the late Ayrton Senna.
The Italian teenager has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 season, winning five consecutive races before a power unit failure ended his streak in Barcelona.
Antonelli currently leads Lewis Hamilton by 41 points heading into the Austrian GP next weekend.
