Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the rumour mill suggesting he might one day wear the famous prancing horse colours, insisting that he could easily imagine spending his entire Formula 1 career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has already shattered expectations, commanding a 59‑point lead in the Drivers' Championship 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 situation for the home crowd at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, who traditionally rally behind Ferrari. When pressed about the possibility of joining Ferrari later in his career, Antonelli replied, "Being Italian, I understand how passionate we can get and how quickly we become excited about anything.
Sometimes we get a little over‑enthusiastic. Of course there will always be speculation, but at the end of the day, while Ferrari is an enormous, iconic brand, I’m genuinely happy where I am right now.
Mercedes gave me my foot in the door when I was a kid, and I feel I still have a lot to give back to them. I’m proud to be part of that family and I intend to stay as long as I can." The conversation then turned to Max Verstappen’s recent contract extension with Red Bull, a move that mirrors the path Verstappen himself took as a teenager. Verstappen was only 17 when Red Bull placed him in its junior squad, Toro Rosso, in 2015 before promoting him to the senior team the following season.
Now, in his tenth full year with Red Bull, Verstappen enjoys a strong bond with the organisation. Antonelli observed, "Max has an amazing relationship with Red Bull. They trusted him at a very young age and gave him a seat when most teams wouldn’t.
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 drew a parallel with his own situation, saying, "I feel the same way about Mercedes. I have a lot to contribute, and if I keep feeling happy and supported, I could see myself staying 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 held on home soil, Mercedes elected to serve Antonelli’s grid penalty at Monza, the venue of the Italian Grand Prix, after he exceeded his allotted engine components for the season.
Two separate engine failures earlier in the year made a penalty inevitable, and the team decided Monza was a sensible place to take it because the circuit’s long straights and high‑speed corners often allow drivers to make up ground even from the back of the grid. "In a way it eases the pressure," Antonelli explained. "I would rather fight for pole and start at the front, but taking the penalty here lets me relax a bit and enjoy the weekend more. It also gives us a chance to try a different approach during practice, because we have the freedom to experiment without the usual expectations.
I think it will make for an interesting weekend." Mercedes had previously justified the decision by noting that it could reduce the mental burden on their young star, especially at his home race where the media spotlight is intense. By serving the penalty at a track where overtaking is possible, Antonelli can still maintain a realistic chance of scoring a strong result while preserving his sizable championship lead. As it stands, he is 59 points ahead of his teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren’s Lando Norris sitting 83 points behind in fourth after winning the last two events.
Antonelli added, "The goal is always the same – to maximise the result. In an ideal world, a top‑five finish is realistic, but it also depends on our pace relative to the others.
If Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull are very close, it might be hard to catch them during the race. We’ll see, but I feel mentally free going into this weekend.
I’m excited and looking forward to it, but without real pressure." The weekend schedule is packed. On Friday, September 4, the day starts with an F3 practice session, followed by F2 practice, then the first Italian Grand Prix practice session at 11:30 am. Later, F3 qualifying, F2 qualifying, and the second F1 practice session take place, ending with the F1 Show and a press conference with team bosses. Saturday, September 5, features an F3 sprint, the third Grand Prix practice, an F2 sprint, and the build‑up to qualifying, culminating in the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session and a special segment called "Ted’s Qualifying Notebook." Sunday, September 6, rounds out the program with F3 and F2 feature races, a Porsche Supercup race, the Grand Prix build‑up, the main Italian Grand Prix, the chequered‑flag reaction, and another edition of "Ted’s Notebook." For fans wanting to watch, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, which offers a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time.
The event marks Ferrari’s home race, but the spotlight is also firmly on Antonelli, whose youthful talent and calm demeanor have already made him one of the sport’s most compelling stories. Whether he continues his journey with Mercedes for the rest of his career or eventually explores other opportunities, his current focus remains on delivering the best possible performance at Monza and maintaining the momentum that has defined his remarkable 2026 season.