Alberto Tomba: 'Kimi and I are of the same Emilian cloth'
Tomba praises Kimi Antonelli, highlights personal similarities and Bologna origins; he shares friendship, a gift, and moments that brought the two champions closer.
Alberto Tomba praised Kimi Antonelli, said he sees himself in the young driver, and summed up: “we are cut from the same Emilian cloth.” The remarks came in an interview in which the Italian champion emphasized personal similarities, gestures of friendship, and episodes that brought the two closer, highlighting Antonelli's human side in the F1 environment, according to ANSA.
Statements by Alberto Tomba about Kimi Antonelli and F1
Tomba said he sees himself in Kimi and that they are “from the same Emilian cloth,” an expression tied to family traditions in the region — tagliatelle and tortellini were cited as symbols of that shared origin. According to ANSA, the former skier said that the cultural heritage of Bologna and its surroundings is present in Antonelli’s straightforward and genuine manner.
The former champion described Kimi as a young direct, healthy, and genuine person who brings joy to the F1 paddock. Tomba also shared details that highlight the pilot’s human side: he noted that Antonelli washes the car by hand and that he gets emotional over small gestures — actions that, to him, reveal the authenticity of the current competitor.
Tomba’s remarks position Antonelli not only as an athletic talent but as someone with clear cultural and behavioral references, something Tomba himself recognizes by sharing the same roots in Bologna.
Common origin, geographic proximity, and friendship
The bond between the two is reinforced by their origin: Tomba was born in San Lazzaro, and Antonelli hails from Casalecchio — towns about 12 km apart, the same distance Antonelli uses in his races. Tomba emphasized this coincidence as a symbolic link that brings the two champions closer.
Kimi’s parents, according to the former athlete’s account to ANSA, were big fans of Tomba, which facilitated the first contact. In 2025, just before Antonelli’s Formula 1 debut, Tomba sent a supportive video through a mutual friend; Kimi replied to the message, and the relationship evolved into a closer friendship. The initial gesture — a supportive video — was recalled by Tomba as a pivotal moment in building the bond between them.
Tomba also shared that he gave Kimi a bracelet from the fan club, a symbolic item that confirmed their public friendship. Since then, they have spent days together, including last summer, when they enjoyed time together off-track.
Gestures and moments that brought the two champions closer
Beyond the gift and the video, Tomba highlighted episodes that reaffirm Antonelli’s personality: simplicity in everyday gestures, emotion in small things, and a willingness to interact with fans and peers. For Tomba, these details humanize the athlete and explain why he identified with Kimi immediately.
The former champion also noted that Antonelli’s presence in F1 has brought a sense of lightness and authenticity to the environment, something appreciated by those who, like Tomba, have lived the world of competition firsthand. References to food and the region’s traditions serve as metaphors for the shared origin that, according to Tomba, shapes attitudes and behavior — from the family dining table to the paddock.
Context and reception
Tomba’s remarks about Kimi Antonelli were published by ANSA and picked up by sports outlets and local media around Bologna, reinforcing public interest in the friendship between icons from different generations. For readers keen on Italy and sports news, the link between regional culture and personal identity emerges as a point of interest for F1 fans and those who follow Italian public figures.
Read more related news in our Italy News section, and about everyday life and traditions in Life in Italy. For those researching genealogy or viewing regional origin as an identity factor, the piece connects with topics discussed in Italian Citizenship.
Conclusion Alberto Tomba’s words highlight a personal connection between two representatives of different generations in Italian sports: cultural identification with Bologna, Kimi Antonelli’s simple gestures, and the moments of friendship that solidify a public image of closeness and authenticity, according to ANSA.
Source: ANSA
