I t probably wasn’t quite how Kimi Antonelli envisaged his inaugural top-of-the-step moment. “Congratulations… Kimi Raikkonen!” bellowed long-time Formula 1 podium announcer Bob Constanduros, as the young Italian jumped onto the podium at the Shanghai International Circuit in March. Antonelli, the lad with a ruthless cutting edge intertwined with a feverishly boyish charm, gestured and laughed with his team down below.

While it was a comical blunder, comparisons to his namesake Finnish driver (sadly for this section, Antonelli’s middle name was not in tribute to Raikkonen) seem somewhat appropriate for the 20-year-old Italian who, on Sunday night, became the youngest Formula 1 world champion ever. Raikkonen, Ferrari ’s last champion in 2007, was known as “The Iceman”, such was his cold, unflustered demeanour.…