Kimi Antonelli brushed aside any speculation that he might one day wear the famous red of Ferrari, insisting that he could easily imagine spending his entire Formula 1 career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian prodigy has far exceeded the modest expectations placed on him, currently sitting 59 points clear at the top of 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 this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, who traditionally rally behind the Scuderia. When pressed about rumours that he could switch to Ferrari later on, Antonelli replied: “Being Italian, I know how passionate we can be and how quick we get carried away with fantasies.
Of course there will always be chatter, but at the end of the day, while Ferrari is an enormous, iconic brand, I am genuinely happy where I am now.” He went on to stress his gratitude toward Mercedes, the team that gave him his first break as a child. “Mercedes gave me the chance when I was just a kid.
I feel I owe them a lot and I want to give back everything I can. Living with that responsibility feels right.” The conversation then shifted to Max Verstappen’s recent contract renewal with Red Bull, a move that mirrors Antonelli’s own path of signing early with a top‑tier outfit.
Verstappen debuted for Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso at 17 in 2015 and was promoted to the senior squad the following season. Now in his tenth full year with Red Bull, Verstappen’s loyalty has become a benchmark for young drivers.
Antonelli noted, “Max has a fantastic relationship with Red Bull. They trusted him when he was very young, gave him a car and a platform. 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 content, why change?” He then drew a direct parallel to his own situation: “I feel the same way about Mercedes. I have a lot to offer them, and if I stay happy, I can see myself staying for my whole career.
Of course, you never know what the future holds, but right now I’m focused on the present.” Despite the race being on home soil, Mercedes elected to hand Antonelli a grid‑penalty for exceeding his allotted engine components. Two separate engine failures earlier in the season meant a penalty was unavoidable, and Monza was chosen because it is one of the circuits where a driver can more easily claw back positions from the back of the grid. Antonelli explained, “It does take some pressure off. Ideally I’d love to fight for pole and start at the front, but this penalty 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, since we can experiment without the immediate pressure of qualifying on the front row.” Mercedes had previously justified the decision as a strategic move to reduce expectations at his home event while preserving his championship lead. At the moment Antonelli leads both his teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 59 points, with McLaren’s Lando Norris trailing in fourth place, 83 points behind after winning the last two races. Antonelli added his thoughts on race strategy and realistic goals: “The ultimate aim is always the same – to maximize the result. In an ideal world a top‑five finish is achievable, but it depends on pace, the gap to the cars ahead, and how the race unfolds.
Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull can be extremely close, so even if we’re quick we might not be able to catch them on track. We’ll see, but I feel mentally free heading into this weekend, excited and with no real pressure.” The weekend schedule is packed with support series and F1 sessions. Friday features F3 and F2 practice, followed by the first Italian Grand Prix practice session, then F3 qualifying and F2 qualifying, before the main F1 practice and the post‑session F1 Show. Saturday includes an F3 sprint, a third practice session for the Grand Prix, an F2 sprint, and the crucial qualifying session that determines the starting grid for the race.
Sunday is the climax with the F3 and F2 feature races, the Porsche Supercup, the Grand Prix itself, and post‑race analysis. All events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. Looking ahead, Antonelli’s remarks illustrate a young driver who is aware of the emotional pull of his national heritage yet remains firmly rooted in the gratitude and loyalty he feels toward the team that nurtured his talent. His measured outlook on Verstappen’s long‑term commitment to Red Bull underscores a broader trend among the new generation of drivers: securing a stable, supportive environment early in their careers can be as valuable as chasing historic marquees.
As the Italian Grand Prix approaches, the added grid penalty may prove a blessing in disguise, offering Antonelli a chance to showcase his racecraft from the back, manage his championship lead, and perhaps deliver a memorable performance that further cements his status as one of the sport’s brightest emerging stars.