Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the chatter that he might someday don the famous red of Ferrari, insisting that he could easily spend his entire racing career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has blown past every expectation, sitting atop the Drivers' Championship with a 59‑point cushion after just 12 rounds of his sophomore Formula 1 season. His dazzling form in 2026 has turned him into a household name across Italy, creating a curious predicament for the home crowd at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, who traditionally rally behind the Scuderia.
When pressed about speculation that he could switch to Ferrari later on, Antonelli answered with a mixture of national pride and personal loyalty: "Being Italian, I know how emotional we can get, how quickly we become excited about possibilities – sometimes perhaps a little too excited. Of course, the media will always spin stories like that, but at the end of the day, Ferrari is an enormous, iconic brand and I respect that. Still, I’m very happy where I am now.
I’m grateful to Mercedes because they gave me my start when I was a kid, and I feel I owe them a lot. I want to give back to the team that believed in me, and I’m comfortable staying here for the long haul." The interview then turned to Max Verstappen’s recent contract extension with Red Bull, a move that mirrors Verstappen’s own teenage signing with the Dutch outfit. Verstappen entered the Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso at 17 in 2015 and was promoted to the senior squad a year later.
Now, in his tenth full season with Red Bull, he remains a central figure in the sport. Antonelli drew a parallel, saying, "Max has an amazing relationship with Red Bull. They trusted him early, gave him a seat, and he’s flourished.
He seems happy and believes in the project, so it makes sense he wants to stay. If he ever decides to move, that will be his choice, but as long as he’s satisfied, why would he leave?" He then reflected on his own future: "I feel the same way about Mercedes. I have a lot to offer them, and if I stay happy here, I can see myself racing for them for my entire career. Of course, you never know what the future holds, but the loyalty feels natural." Despite the race being on home soil, Mercedes opted to serve Antonelli’s grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation at Monza.
Two separate engine failures earlier in the year made a penalty inevitable, and the team chose the Italian circuit because it is historically one of the easier tracks to climb through the field from the back. Antonelli admitted that while he would prefer to fight for pole, the penalty actually eases some of the pressure: "In a way it helps me relax. I would rather start at the front, but knowing I have a penalty lets me focus on enjoying the weekend rather than stressing about qualifying.
It also gives us a chance to try a different approach in free practice, which is interesting." Mercedes explained that the decision was strategic: it reduces the expectations placed on Antonelli at his home race and allows him to serve the penalty while still maintaining a comfortable lead in the championship. Currently, Antonelli leads his teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 59 points, with McLaren’s Lando Norris trailing by 83 points in fourth after a double‑race win streak.
Antonelli summed up his mindset ahead of the Grand Prix: "The goal is always the same – maximise the result. In an ideal scenario, a top‑five finish is realistic, but it depends on our pace, the gaps between cars, and how the race unfolds. Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull could be very close, and raw speed alone might not be enough to catch them.
I feel mentally free heading into the weekend, excited and looking forward to it, but without real pressure." The schedule for the weekend is packed: Friday will host F3 and F2 practice sessions, followed by the first Italian Grand Prix practice and qualifying sessions for the junior categories, as well as the F1 Show and a press conference with team principals. Saturday includes an F3 sprint, the third practice session for the Grand Prix, the F2 sprint, and the crucial qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, with a special “Ted’s Qualifying Notebook” segment.
Sunday rounds out the action with F3 and F2 feature races, a Porsche Supercup race, the Grand Prix itself, post‑race analysis, and another edition of Ted’s Notebook. For fans wanting to watch, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza remains a marquee event for Ferrari, but Antonelli’s comments underline a growing loyalty to Mercedes that could shape the narrative of the sport for years to come. His blend of youthful optimism, strategic thinking, and respect for both his heritage and his current team paints a picture of a driver who is not only talented but also thoughtfully aware of the business and emotional aspects of Formula 1.