Formula 1 championships are won on the track, but the excitement around a driver's journey extends far beyond race day. Fans follow every lap, celebrate victories and stand by their favourites through difficult moments. Sometimes, that support finds a different expression through art.
Following Kimi Antonelli's historic Formula 1 championship win, artists from India, Mexico and Vietnam have created portraits of the young driver, each bringing their own style to celebrate the achievement. Representing India is an artist known as Sonu, whose pinhole art portrait offers a creative take on the new world champion.
ALSO READ: Who Is Kimi Antonelli? The 20-Year-Old Who Just Made Formula 1 History
Who Is Sonu, The Artist Behind The Portrait?
Known on Instagram as @creativeboysonu, Sonu is an Indian artist who shares his artwork and creative process online.
His portfolio includes original artwork, personalised art gifts, exclusive wall art, spiritual art and black-and-white creations. He also experiments with different artistic techniques, including pinhole art, which uses tiny holes to create an image or pattern.
Sonu has previously created pinhole art portraits of several personalities, including singer Yo Yo Honey Singh, industrialist Ratan Tata and Jesus Christ.
His latest creation is a pinhole art portrait of Italian Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli, which he made while drinking STING. Antonelli recently made history by becoming the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Champion at just 20.
Sonu is among three artists from India, Mexico and Vietnam who have created portraits of the young champion, each bringing their own artistic style to the project.
From Karting To Making F1 History
At just 20, Italian racing driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made history by becoming the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Champion.
Driving for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, Antonelli secured the 2026 Drivers' Championship after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 1 November.
He entered the race knowing that a ninth-place finish would be enough to secure the title, regardless of how his closest rivals performed. However, he went one better, finishing on the podium behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
At 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli broke the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who won his first championship at 23.
The victory also made Antonelli the first Italian driver to win the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
His journey to the top began long before his Formula 1 debut. Antonelli competed in karting before progressing through junior single-seater racing categories, including Formula 4, Formula Regional and Formula 2. He joined Mercedes' Formula 1 team in 2025, making the jump to the sport's top level at a young age.
ALSO READ: How Formula 1 is Wooing Its Indian Audience
What Makes Formula 1 Such A Big Deal?
Formula 1, or F1, is the highest level of international single-seater motor racing. It has a global fanbase that follows drivers, teams and rivalries throughout the season.
F1's fandom extends beyond racing, with fans travelling across countries to attend events, wearing team merchandise and following their favourite drivers on social media. Team rivalries, memes and behind-the-scenes content have also helped attract younger audiences.
Antonelli's win at 20 marks an early arrival at the top of one of the world's most competitive motorsport series, giving his fans a historic moment to celebrate.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Who is Sonu?
Sonu, known as @creativeboysonu on Instagram, is an Indian artist who creates original, personalised and custom artwork.
What has Sonu created?
He has created a portrait of Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli while sipping STING, celebrating the new world champion and his fans.
Why is Kimi Antonelli in the news?
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver became Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November 2026.
What is Formula 1?
Formula 1 is the highest level of international single-seater motor racing, where drivers compete across Grands Prix for the Drivers' Championship.
