Kimi Antonelli brushed aside the speculation that he might someday switch to Ferrari, insisting that he could easily imagine spending his entire Formula 1 career with Mercedes. The 20‑year‑old Italian has already shattered expectations, commanding a 59‑point lead in the Drivers' Championship after just 12 rounds of his sophomore season.
His dazzling 2026 campaign has turned him into a household name across Italy, creating a curious dilemma for fans who traditionally rally behind the Scuderia at the Italian Grand Prix. When pressed about rumours that he could join Ferrari later in his career, Antonelli answered with a mix of national pride and personal conviction.
"Being Italian, I understand how passionate we get and how quickly we can get carried away," he said. "There will always be chatter about Ferrari – it’s a massive, iconic brand – but at the end of the day I’m genuinely happy where I am.
Mercedes gave me my first real break when I was a kid, and I feel I still have a lot to give back to them. I’m comfortable staying here for the long haul." The conversation then shifted to Max Verstappen’s recent contract extension with Red Bull, a move that mirrors the path Verstappen himself took as a teenager. Verstappen was 17 when he earned a seat with Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, in 2015 and was promoted to the senior squad the following year. Now, in his tenth full season with Red Bull, Verstappen enjoys a stable partnership that many young drivers, including Antonelli, view as a template for their own futures.
"Max has an incredible relationship with Red Bull," Antonelli observed. "They trusted him at a very young age and gave him the car when he needed it most. He seems happy and committed to the project, and I think that’s why he wants to stay.
If he ever decides to move on, that will be his choice, but as long as he’s satisfied, there’s no reason to leave." Antonelli drew a direct parallel to his own situation at Mercedes. "I feel the same way about Mercedes," he explained.
"I have a lot to offer them, and if I stay happy and continue to develop here, I can see myself spending my whole career with this team. Of course, you never know what the future holds, but the plan right now is to keep building together." Even though the race at Monza is technically his home event, Mercedes opted to give Antonelli a grid penalty for exceeding his allocated engine usage this season. Two separate engine issues earlier in the year made a penalty inevitable, and the team chose Monza because it is traditionally a circuit where a driver can fight his way through the field from the back thanks to its long straights and slip‑streaming opportunities. "In a way it relieves some pressure," Antonelli admitted.
"I would rather fight for pole and start at the front, but taking a penalty here 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 stress of defending a front‑row position. I think it will make for a very interesting weekend." Mercedes explained that the strategic penalty could reduce the mental burden on their young star, especially at his native Grand Prix, while still preserving his substantial lead in the championship.
At the moment, Antonelli is 59 points ahead of his teammate George Russell and the Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren’s Lando Norris sitting 83 points back in fourth after winning the previous two races. Looking ahead to the race itself, Antonelli said his primary goal remains unchanged: to extract the maximum possible result. "Ideally, a top‑five finish is realistic if we have the pace," he said. "But it also depends on the gap to the other cars.
Even if we’re quick, Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull could be so close that catching them in the race becomes a real challenge." He added that his mental state going into Monza is unusually calm. "I feel mentally free, excited, and ready for the weekend, but without the weight of expectation. That freedom helps me focus on the driving rather than the headlines." The schedule for the weekend is packed with support series and media events. Friday begins with F3 practice at 7:30 am, followed by F2 practice at 8:55 am, then the first Italian Grand Prix practice session at 11:30 am.
Qualifying for the junior categories continues through the day, culminating in the F1 Show at 4:15 pm and a press conference with team principals at 5:20 pm. Saturday features an F3 sprint, the third practice session for the Grand Prix, an F2 sprint, and the crucial qualifying session that determines the starting grid for the Sunday race.
The Sunday program includes the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup race, and finally the Italian Grand Prix itself, with post‑race analysis and reaction shows following the chequered flag. For fans watching at home, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. The Monza circuit, known as the "Temple of Speed," provides a historic backdrop for what promises to be a pivotal moment in Antonelli’s early career. Whether he starts from the back due to his penalty or fights his way to the front, his performance will be scrutinised not just by Italian supporters but by the entire Formula 1 community, eager to see if the young prodigy can maintain his dominant lead and continue to shape his legacy with Mercedes.