Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver, arrives at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix leading the Formula 1 world championship, raising hopes that he could end Italy's 73-year wait for a home-grown world champion. The twist is that he drives for Mercedes rather than Ferrari, the team so deeply woven into Italian identity that fans and commentators liken supporting it to a religion, yet Antonelli's form and personality appear to be winning over Italian fans regardless of team colours.

Antonelli became F1's youngest-ever championship leader in March after winning in Japan aged 19 years, seven months and four days, and heads into Monza with a 59-point lead having won six races this season. Italy last celebrated a Ferrari world champion in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, and has not had an Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1952-53; journalists, ex-racers and fans quoted by the BBC describe Antonelli as a "disruptor" who is reshaping traditional fan loyalties, with some Ferrari faithful admitting they are torn between backing the Scuderia and cheering on the young Italian.