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Jimmy Carr is one of Britain's finest comedians, but left Formula One fans unconvinced as he swiftly slotted a joke about Kimi Antonelli into his stand-up routine. Antonelli confirmed with a podium finish at last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix that he is the 2026 world champion and the youngest driver ever to win the F1 title. Aged just 20, he is well-placed to launch a dynasty in the future if Mercedes can continue to supply him with competitive machinery.
Antonelli is a fairly universally-popular champion, with rivals from up and down the grid rushing to congratulate him. Team principal Toto Wolff has also described him as a different breed of champion who "represents values like humility, integrity, loyalty and respect".
However, comedian Carr saw an opportunity to poke fun at Antonelli and Mercedes by pretending to be concerned about the partnership. "Antonelli won the Formula One," he tells his audience in a clip of a recent stand-up show which has now been published on social media.
The fans respond with a cheer, but Carr is seen on stage waving his finger and telling the punters: "I don't like it, I don't like it one bit." He then elaborates: "I don't like it because he's Italian and he won the F1 championship in a Mercedes. When the Italians and the Germans come together, bad things happen."
It was a reference to the Second World War, during which Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany was allied with the Kingdom of Italy, led by Benito Mussolini. The joke got a big laugh from his live audience, though F1 fans were not convinced.
"Not his finest work, too easy," one fan wrote under the video on social media platform X. A second asked: "Is this supposed to be funny?" And a third reposted the video with the caption: "The most unfunny comedian to do it."
Several others pointed out that Carr had actually missed an opportunity to further the jokeby pointing out that both Nazi Germany during the war and the Mercedes team today have an Austrian leader in common. One fan wrote: "This joke would only hit if he talked about the Austrian being in charge of the whole operation," while a second added: "I wish he mentioned Toto Wolff."
As for Antonelli, he is back in racing action this weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He is eyeing a first Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory to honour Ayrton Senna, his idol, having met with the late motorsport legend's family in Brazil this weekend.
Jimmy Carr on Kimi being the WCAbsolutely lovely https://t.co/q5eRouguJ3
— Cytrus 🍋 (@cytrusf1) November 5, 2026
Antonelli said: "We just want to win more and more. Definitely, when I would go back home, I will have a bit more time to think about it. But now, we're in Brazil and the goal is to try and go and win this weekend.
"This is one of the most special weekends of the year for me. The support is very incredible around here, the passion for Formula One is incredible and it's also a very good track. It's a really cool combination, a great city with a lot of nature, we've got a great atmosphere, a great track and so it's a perfect combination. And also it's the race of my hero, so it adds a little bit extra.
"I would love to win here, it would be lovely to win in the future and to even win a championship here, to claim it here. Ayrton is my hero, he's a big hero for Brazil. I had the opportunity to go and visit the Senna family as well and have a look around and just see his car from 1986. It was a true emotion just to be able to experience that.
"If I could pick a race to win, it would be this one. We'll be here in Brazil and hopefully we can do it this weekend. Also, we'll have a special helmet to celebrate Brazil this weekend, to celebrate Ayrton and to celebrate his 35 years ever since he won in sixth gear. Hopefully, it's going to be a very special one."
Big moments. Packed grandstands. A championship battle that’s heating up.
When the Formula 1 season delivers like this, watching from home just isn’t the same as being there when the lights go out.
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