Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the chatter that he might someday end up behind the wheel of a Ferrari, insisting that he could easily imagine spending his entire racing career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has far outstripped expectations, currently leading the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship by a staggering 59 points after just 12 rounds of his sophomore season. His dazzling form in 2026 has turned him into a household name across Italy, creating a curious dilemma for the home crowd at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, who traditionally throw their unwavering support behind the Scuderia.
When pressed about the persistent speculation that he could switch to Ferrari later in his career, Antonelli answered with a blend of national pride and personal conviction: "Being Italian, I know how emotional we can be and how quick we are to get carried away. Of course, the media will always spin stories about a possible move, but at the end of the day, Ferrari is an iconic, world‑class brand and I respect that. Yet I am genuinely happy where I am right now. Mercedes gave me a chance when I was just a kid, and I feel I owe them a lot.
I want to give back as much as I can and stay loyal to the team that believed in me from the start." The conversation then shifted to Max Verstappen’s recent decision to extend his contract with Red Bull, a move that mirrors how the Dutch driver was signed as a teenager. Antonelli noted, "Max has a special bond with Red Bull.
They took a chance on him at a very young age, placed their trust in his talent, and he has flourished ever since. He seems content with the team, believes in their project, and has every reason to remain there. If he ever decides to move on, that will be his choice, but as long as he is happy, there is no reason to force a change." He drew a direct parallel to his own situation, adding, "I feel the same way about Mercedes. I have a lot to offer them, and if I continue to feel satisfied and motivated here, I can see myself staying for the rest of my career.
Of course, you never know what the future holds, but for now I am focused on giving my best for the team that gave me this platform." Even though Monza is technically a home race for Antonelli, Mercedes strategically selected the historic circuit as the venue for serving a grid penalty that the young driver incurred after exceeding his allocated engine components for the season. Two separate engine issues earlier in the year made a penalty unavoidable, and the team judged Monza to be one of the most forgiving tracks for climbing back through the field, thanks to its long straights and multiple overtaking zones. "In a way it eases the pressure," Antonelli explained. "Ideally I would love to fight for pole and start at the front, but taking a penalty at Monza gives me a chance to relax a little, enjoy the weekend more, and experiment with a different approach during practice sessions.
It’s a unique opportunity to test alternative setups without the weight of expectation that comes with a home Grand Prix. I think it will make for an interesting and enjoyable weekend." Mercedes had previously justified the decision by pointing out that serving the penalty at the Italian round would reduce the spotlight on Antonelli, allowing him to focus on his race craft while still protecting his sizable lead in the championship. At the moment Antonelli sits 59 points clear of his teammate George Russell and of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, while McLaren's Lando Norris trails by 83 points in fourth place after securing victories in the two most recent events.
Antonelli summed up his mindset: "The goal is always the same – to maximize the result. Realistically, a top‑five finish is achievable if we have the pace and the gap to the leading cars is manageable.
Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull can be very close, and sometimes even a fast car isn’t enough to close the distance during the race. We’ll see how it unfolds, but mentally I feel free and excited heading into the weekend.
There’s no overwhelming pressure, just the desire to perform well." The schedule for the race weekend is packed with support series and media events. On Friday, September 4, the day begins with an F3 practice session at 7:30 am, followed by F2 practice at 8:55 am, then the first Italian Grand Prix practice at 11:00 am (the session actually starts at 11:30 am). Later in the day, F3 qualifying runs at 12:55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and the second Grand Prix practice session kicks off at 2:35 pm (starting at 3:00 pm).
The afternoon wraps up with the F1 Show at 4:15 pm and the Team Bosses' press conference at 5:20 pm. Saturday, September 5, sees an F3 sprint at 8:25 am, the third Grand Prix practice at 11:15 am (beginning at 11:30 am), an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, and a build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 pm. The main qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix starts at 3:00 pm, followed by a post‑qualifying analysis segment called "Ted's Qualifying Notebook" at 5:00 pm.
Sunday, September 6, is the climax of the weekend. The day opens with the F3 feature race at 7:10 am, the F2 feature race at 8:40 am, and the Porsche Supercup race at 10:40 am. After a brief intermission, the Grand Prix build‑up airs at 12:30 pm, leading into the Italian Grand Prix itself at 2:00 pm. The race concludes with the chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction at 4:00 pm, and finally "Ted's Notebook" provides a wrap‑up at 5:00 pm.
All sessions marked with an asterisk are also broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event. For fans wanting to watch live, the Italian Grand Prix will be streamed on Sky Sports F1, and the entire Sky Sports package can be accessed via NOW with no long‑term contract required, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
The race at Monza promises high drama, especially with Antonelli balancing a championship lead, a strategic grid penalty, and the emotional pull of racing in front of his home crowd while representing a team that has become his professional family.