Kimi Antonelli Honored With Title of Commander of the Order of Saint Agatha in San Marino

Newly crowned F1 world champion Kimi Antonelli has been honored with the title of Commander of the Equestrian Order of Saint Agatha in San Marino on Thursday. The Italian national was invested with the title by Captains Regent William Casali and Gerardo Giovagnoli at San Marino’s Public Palace.

The Equestrian Order of Saint Agatha is one of San Marino’s highest state chivalric orders, given exclusively to non-citizens of the country. Antonelli, who is Italian, has been given the rank of Commander within the order, which is the third-highest grade.

The title is granted by the landlocked country’s parliament, the Grand and General Council, on the proposal of the Captains Regent, who are Casali and Giovagnoli, as they serve as the nation’s heads of state.

Antonelli received this honor less than two weeks after he became the youngest-ever F1 world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix in October. The Mercedes driver and his family hail from Bologna in Italy, but live permanently in San Marino.

Antonelli was given this title after a sustained effort from San Marino’s secretary of state for sport, Rossano Fabbri. The president of the San Marino National Olympic Committee, Christian Forcellini, was also present at the function.

Kimi Antonelli Shares Heartfelt Note After Receiving Honor From San Marino’s Parliament

Antonelli left a note and signed the book of guests at the Public Palace of San Marino after receiving the honor from the republic’s parliament. The 20-year-old thanked the country and its people for welcoming him with ‘open arms’.

“To the Republic of San Marino, thank you for today, because it is a day I will remember forever. Thank you for your appreciation and all your support, and for welcoming me with open arms.

“In my own small way, I’ll continue trying to spread positive values, and I’ll do my best to keep winning and bringing pride to the Italian flag and San Marino. With much affection, Kimi,” wrote Antonelli.

Antonelli has lived in San Marino permanently since 2024, having moved there while he was driving in F2. His father, Marco Antonelli, established his own racing team, AKM Motorsport, in the country in 2020.

Kimi Antonelli’s Father Previously Denied Monaco’s Prince’s Offer for the Driver to Move Out of San Marino

Antonelli’s father, Marco, has previously denied Monaco’s Prince Albert’s offer for him and the F1 star to move out of San Marino and to the Principality. Marco claimed that the driver and the whole family love San Marino and do not wish to move away anytime soon.

Prince Albert had claimed that Antonelli wanted to move to Monaco in a recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. But Marco denied this, calling San Marino ‘an excellent overall compromise for a Formula 1 driver.’

Kimi himself has previously stated that he is happy living in the Monte Titano region of the country, which he considers very peaceful. He also shared his appreciation for the city, which he loves living in more and more with time.

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