Mercedes Celebration: Antonelli's tequila, champagne and getaway

Kimi Antonelli became world champion and lived an emotional podium at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, between tears and smiles, beside Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, before taking part in celebrations in the Mercedes garage that included champagne and tequila — according to ANSA.

Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes and the celebration in Mexico

On the podium of the race that confirmed Kimi Antonelli's title, the young Italian driver showed evident emotion: tears, hugs and congratulations from rivals and teammates. Hamilton and Verstappen shared the moment of celebration, greeting Antonelli before official interviews, according to ANSA.

After the interviews, the celebration moved to the Mercedes boxes, where there was the traditional champagne bath and an episode that drew attention: the presence of tequila. According to ANSA, Antonelli, who is known for not regularly consuming alcoholic beverages, ended up tasting tequila — a gesture partly motivated by the team's expectations and internal banter. Team principal Toto Wolff had already commented earlier in the weekend that the “times were ripe” for Antonelli to try his first tequila, according to the same report.

During the party, the driver asked team members to spare the women in his family — his mother, Veronica, and sister Maggie — from the traditional drinks bath. Even so, the celebration and the after party involved champagne, music and a mood of great relief at the title won.

Hasty exit and busy agenda before the Brazil GP

After the celebrations and the after party in the Mercedes boxes, Antonelli left the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in a hurry, according to reports cited by ANSA. The quick exit comes amid a tight schedule: the champion will have an intense period of official commitments, interviews and promotional events before the next weekend, when Formula 1 lands in Brazil for the Brazil GP.

The driver and team movements are of direct interest to Brazilian fans — and especially to Italian-descendants who closely follow the performance of Italian drivers abroad. The Brazil GP will be the next opportunity to see Antonelli on track, and the prior commitments may influence the young champion's physical and mental preparation.

Repercussion for Brazilians and the Italian-Brazilian community

Antonelli's victory and the reaction to the celebrations in the boxes have extra relevance for readers in Brazil and for the Italian-descendant community. The highlight of an Italian driver winning the world title tends to increase interest in his journey, his relationship with international teams like Mercedes, and the coverage Italian and Brazilian outlets will dedicate to the case.

Readers interested in how events in Italy reverberate in the country can follow other related topics in our Italy News section. For those who also follow issues of ties with Italy, such as citizenship and culture, remember that the close relationship between sports, identity and media often resonates in immigrant and descendant communities — a theme our portal often treats in pieces about Life in Italy and Italian Citizenship.

What the episode left: image, tradition and team protocol

The scene in Mexico blended classic elements of Formula 1 celebrations — champagne on the podium, team parties and after parties — with moments of relaxation and camaraderie among team members and the driver. Antonelli's participation in the social ritual of trying tequila, even as a teetotaler, was treated by Mercedes members and by Wolff as a symbolic gesture of integration into the group and celebration of the title.

Sports image experts tend to note that rituals and celebrations contribute to building the public narrative of a champion: short films, photos on social networks, and reports around the world help to consolidate the driver’s image with the public and sponsors. In Antonelli's case, the combination of podium emotion and box-side relaxation provided ample material for international media, according to ANSA.

Before the Brazil GP: fans' expectations and attention

With the hurried exit from the circuit and a heavy schedule ahead, Antonelli remains in high gear toward the Brazil GP. Brazilian fans and Italian-descendants will have the opportunity to follow both the races and the off-track movements — interviews, promotional sessions and public appearances — that typically precede calendar events.

Coverage will continue to focus on the driver's performance on the track and the reactions to the celebrations that marked his title — including images of champagne, tequila, and the family moments that made international news, according to ANSA.

Source: ANSA