Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the chatter that he might someday wear the famous Scuderia Ferrari colours, insisting that his future lies firmly with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has already shattered expectations, sitting 59 points clear at the top of the Drivers' Championship after just twelve races in only his second Formula 1 season. His dazzling form in 2026 has turned him into a household name across Italy, creating a curious situation for the home crowd at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, who traditionally rally behind the prancing horse.
When pressed about the persistent speculation that he could join Ferrari later in his career, Antonelli answered with a mixture of national pride and personal conviction: “Being Italian, I know how passionate we can be and how quickly we get carried away. Of course, the media will always spin stories about a possible move, and Ferrari is a massive, iconic brand. But I’m genuinely happy where I am now.” He went on to add, “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 that loyalty.” The conversation then shifted to Max Verstappen’s recent decision to extend his contract with Red Bull, a move that mirrors Antonelli’s own path of early talent identification and long‑term commitment.
Verstappen was only 17 when Red Bull placed him in its junior outfit, Toro Rosso, in 2015, before promoting him to the senior team the following year. Now, in his tenth full season with Red Bull, Verstappen enjoys a stable, successful partnership.
Antonelli sees a similar trajectory for himself at Mercedes. “Max has a fantastic relationship with Red Bull. They trusted him when he was very young, and he’s stayed because he believes in the project,” Antonelli explained.
“If one day he wants a change, that’s his decision, but as long as he’s happy, there’s no reason to move.” He mirrored that sentiment with his own team: “I feel I have a lot to give Mercedes, and if I stay happy, I could see myself there for my whole career. 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 opted to hand Antonelli a grid penalty for exceeding his allocated engine usage this season, choosing Monza as the venue where the penalty would be served.
Two separate engine issues earlier in the year made a penalty inevitable, and the team reasoned that Monza, with its long straights and ample overtaking opportunities, offered the best chance for Antonelli to claw his way back through the field. "In a way it takes some pressure off," Antonelli admitted.
"I’d rather fight for pole, but starting from the back lets me relax a bit and enjoy the weekend more. It also gives us a chance to try a different approach in practice, because we can experiment without the weight of expectation." Mercedes explained that the strategy was designed to reduce the mental burden on their young star at his home race, while still preserving his substantial lead in the championship. At the moment, Antonelli is 59 points ahead of his teammate George Russell and the legendary Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, with McLaren’s Lando Norris trailing by 83 points in fourth place after winning the previous two events. Looking ahead to the Monza weekend, Antonelli emphasized his mindset: "The goal is always the same – maximise the result.
In an ideal world a top‑five finish is realistic, but it depends on our pace, the gaps to the other cars, and how the race unfolds. Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull could be very close, and sometimes raw speed isn’t enough to bridge that gap during the race.
We’ll see, but I feel mentally free going into this weekend. I’m excited and looking forward to it, without real pressure." Beyond the race itself, the schedule for the Italian Grand Prix weekend is packed with support series and fan events. Friday starts with F3 practice at 7:30 am, followed by F2 practice at 8:55 am, and the first F1 practice session at 11:30 am.
Later in the day, F3 qualifying runs at 12:55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and the second F1 practice session begins at 3:00 pm. The afternoon concludes with The F1 Show at 4:15 pm and the Team Bosses' Press Conference at 5:20 pm. Saturday’s agenda includes an F3 sprint at 8:25 am, the third F1 practice session at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, and the build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 pm.
The main qualifying session kicks off at 3:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm. Sunday wraps up the weekend 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. The Grand Prix build‑up begins at 12:30 pm, leading to the Italian Grand Prix start at 2:00 pm. The chequered flag falls at 4:00 pm, and the post‑race reaction and Ted’s Notebook air at 5:00 pm.
For fans wanting to watch the action, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a contract and the option to cancel at any time. The Italian Grand Prix at Monza remains a showcase of speed, heritage, and the personal narratives of drivers like Antonelli, who balance national expectations with personal loyalty, and the ever‑present question of where their careers will ultimately lead them.