Antonelli mania hits new heights as F1 collectible sells for almost $1 million

At just 20 years old, Antonelli has already achieved what many drivers spend their entire careers chasing. His maiden Formula 1 world championship, secured at the Mexican Grand Prix, made him the youngest champion in the sport's history and ended Italy's 73-year wait for another Drivers' title.

The Italian's remarkable rise has also created a phenomenon that extends well beyond the paddock. From the attention surrounding his performances to the growing demand for memorabilia, Antonelli has quickly established himself as one of the most recognisable figures in Formula 1.

Now, a single trading card featuring the Mercedes driver has sold for a sum approaching one million dollars, coming remarkably close to an all-time Formula 1 record.

The item is a 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 SuperFractor, featuring Antonelli during his rookie campaign with Mercedes. The card includes the Italian's autograph and carries the exclusive 1/1 designation, meaning that only one copy of this particular edition exists. The photograph shows Antonelli smiling while riding a scooter, an image captured during his first season in the championship.

The card was sold through auction house Goldin on 18 October 2026 for $878,400, making it the second-most expensive Formula 1 trading card ever sold. Its exceptional condition also contributed to its value. The card received a PSA 10 grade, the highest possible rating awarded by Professional Sports Authenticator.

Remarkably, the sale took place before Antonelli officially secured the Drivers' Championship in Mexico, meaning collectors were already prepared to spend enormous amounts on his memorabilia before he became a world champion.

Only one Formula 1 trading card has ever commanded a higher price. In 2022, a rare 2020 Topps Chrome card featuring seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sold for $900,000. That leaves Antonelli just $21,600 short of the all-time record held by the very driver he replaced at Mercedes.

The extraordinary auction result is the latest demonstration of a phenomenon that began taking shape much earlier in the season. Back in May, Antonelli mania was already sweeping across Italy, with the growing excitement surrounding the Mercedes youngster drawing comparisons to the enormous popularity of tennis star Jannik Sinner.

At the time, Antonelli had already surprised the Formula 1 paddock by emerging as a genuine championship contender against his more experienced teammate George Russell. His early victories, consecutive pole positions and unexpected championship lead quickly transformed him from a promising talent into a national sporting sensation.

Even Toto Wolff acknowledged the extraordinary attention surrounding the Italian, warning that the expectations of an entire country could become difficult to manage.

"The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified for football, it's all about Sinner and Antonelli. So it's the two that are superstars, and that is something which we need to contain," the Mercedes team principal explained at the time.

For Italy, Antonelli represented something that had been missing from Formula 1 for generations: a genuine homegrown contender capable of fighting for the world championship.

The country had not celebrated an Italian Drivers' World Champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, despite Ferrari remaining one of the most passionately supported teams in the sport.

Antonelli's success has now changed that. What began as excitement over a teenager challenging established Formula 1 stars has developed into a nationwide celebration of a new world champion.

The extraordinary price paid for his rookie trading card illustrates just how far that enthusiasm has spread, with collectors now placing Antonelli's early memorabilia alongside some of the most valuable items associated with Formula 1 legends.