Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the persistent rumours that he might one day don a Ferrari racing suit, insisting that he could easily imagine spending his entire Formula 1 career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has already shattered expectations, sitting atop the Drivers' Championship with a 59‑point cushion after just twelve races in only his sophomore season.
His dazzling form throughout 2026 has turned him into a household name in Italy, creating a curious situation for the home crowd at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, where many fans traditionally rally behind the Scuderia. When asked about speculation that he could switch to Ferrari later in his career, Antonelli replied, "Being Italian, I know how emotional we can get and how easy it is to get carried away with excitement. Of course, there will always be that kind of chatter, but at the end of the day, Ferrari is a massive, incredible brand, and I respect that. Yet I am extremely happy where I am now.
Mercedes gave me my start when I was a kid, and I feel I still have a lot to give back to them. I want to live up to that responsibility." Later in the interview, the young driver was asked to comment on Max Verstappen's recent decision to extend his contract with Red Bull, a team that also signed the Dutch star as a teenager. Verstappen was only 17 when he earned a seat with Red Bull's junior outfit Toro Rosso in 2015, before being promoted to the senior team the following year.
This season marks Verstappen's tenth full year with Red Bull, and Antonelli sees a parallel path for himself with Mercedes. "Max has an amazing relationship with Red Bull," Antonelli said. "They trusted him at a very young age and gave him a car when he was still learning.
He seems happy with the team and believes in the project, so it makes sense that he wants to stay. If he ever decides to move on, that will be his choice, but as long as he is content, why would he leave?" He added, "I feel the same way about Mercedes. I have so much to offer them, and if I remain happy here, I could easily spend my whole career with this team. Of course, you never know what the future holds, but for now I’m focused on the present." Despite the race being on home soil, Mercedes deliberately chose Monza as the venue for Antonelli to serve a grid penalty for exceeding his allocated engine usage this season.
Two separate engine issues earlier in the year made a penalty inevitable, and Monza is considered one of the circuits where a driver can more easily claw back positions from the back of the grid due to its long straights and slip‑streaming opportunities. "In a way it relieves pressure," Antonelli explained. "I would love to fight for pole and start at the front, but taking a penalty at Monza actually lets me relax a bit and enjoy the weekend more. It also gives us a chance to try a different approach in free practice because we can experiment without the usual expectations.
I think it will be an interesting weekend." Mercedes had previously justified the decision, noting that it could reduce the mental burden on their young star by lowering expectations at his home event while still preserving his sizable lead in the championship. At the moment Antonelli leads his teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 59 points, with McLaren's Lando Norris trailing 83 points in fourth after securing victories in the last two races. Antonelli summed up his mindset: "The goal is always the same – to maximise the result. Realistically, a top‑five finish is achievable if we have the pace.
It also depends on how close the competition is; Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull could be right on our heels, making it hard to catch them during the race. But mentally I feel very free heading into this weekend. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it, and I’m not feeling any real pressure." The weekend schedule is packed.
On Friday, September 4, the program includes F3 practice, F2 practice, the first Italian Grand Prix practice session, F3 qualifying, F2 qualifying, the second Italian Grand Prix practice, The F1 Show, and the Team Bosses' press conference. Saturday, September 5, features an F3 sprint, the third Italian Grand Prix practice, an F2 sprint, a build‑up to qualifying, the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. Sunday, September 6, rounds out the event with the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup race, the Grand Prix build‑up, the Italian Grand Prix itself, the post‑race reaction, and Ted’s Notebook. All sessions are also available on Sky Sports Main Event.
In summary, while the allure of Ferrari remains strong for any Italian driver, Antonelli’s loyalty lies with Mercedes, the team that nurtured his talent from a young age. He acknowledges the emotional pull of his heritage but emphasizes his gratitude and commitment to the Silver Arrows.
His outlook mirrors that of Max Verstappen’s with Red Bull – a partnership built on early trust, mutual success, and a shared vision for the future. As the Monza weekend approaches, Antonelli appears ready to embrace the challenge, whether that means battling from the back of the grid or defending his championship lead, all while keeping his focus on enjoyment and performance rather than speculation about future moves.