Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok argues that Kimi Antonelli’s decision to race for Mercedes rather than Ferrari has significantly eased the burden that would otherwise rest on the young Italian driver. Antonelli entered the Mercedes junior academy at the tender age of eleven after a string of standout karting performances, and his rapid ascent through the feeder series has seen him reach Formula 1 and replace Lewis Hamilton in the Silver Arrows just last season.
At the moment Antonelli is dominating the championship, sitting 66 points clear of his teammate George Russell as the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid approaches. If he maintains his form, the 20‑year‑old could become the youngest world champion in the sport’s history. Marco Antonelli, Kimi’s father, has previously disclosed that Ferrari showed interest in the youngster, but the Italian team was reluctant to sign someone so inexperienced. Mercedes, on the other hand, were prepared to take the gamble, offering a clear development pathway and a supportive environment.
During a recent episode of The F1 Show, Chandhok explained his view: "I actually think that by not making him a Ferrari junior, by not putting him in front of Ferrari, by not trying to brand him as a Ferrari young driver, and by steering him onto the Mercedes route, Marco Antonelli has done the best thing for his son. It has taken the pressure off in countless ways." He went on to ask, "Could you imagine if he were an Italian driver for Ferrari?
The expectations would be astronomical. Mercedes have done a fantastic job of nurturing him and bringing him here." Chandhok recalled seeing Antonelli’s family near the Mercedes motorhome after the race. "They were beaming because Kimi had just won his home Grand Prix.
I couldn’t help but think that not being a Ferrari driver has removed a huge amount of pressure for them." The Spanish Grand Prix, the 14th round of the 2026 season, delivered a dramatic weekend. Antonelli’s victory in the inaugural Madring race extended his championship lead, while rivals such as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen faced setbacks that further highlighted Kimi’s dominance. Last week Antonelli himself brushed aside speculation that he might switch to Ferrari in the future, stating that he could easily spend his entire career with Mercedes. "Ferrari is a massive, incredible brand and I’m very happy where I am," he said.
Nevertheless, Chandhok expressed a hopeful wish that the Italian prodigy might one day don the red colours. "For the sake of the sport and for Ferrari, I hope that, like Lewis, in ten or fifteen years, after Kimi has achieved a great deal, he might become a Ferrari driver. It would be wonderful for Ferrari to have him." Antonelli’s meteoric rise has stunned the paddock.
His most eye‑catching performance came at Monza, where he started 19th on the grid and surged to victory, a feat that captured headlines worldwide. Sky Sports F1’s David Croft labelled him a "generational talent" who remains "grounded" despite the hype. Croft recounted a light‑hearted moment from the weekend: "At the start of the weekend he was being pranked in the paddock, with cream pies being thrown at him by his own team as part of a birthday surprise. Most drivers would probably not have taken that well, but Kimi loved it.
He’s so comfortable within the team, both on and off the track. He’s a breath of fresh air for Formula 1." Chandhok added that Antonelli’s early exposure to a professional environment has been crucial. "He’s been groomed from a very young age as a complete, all‑round driver – learning how to work with a team, how to operate within a large structure.
Kids today are signed to driver programmes at ten, eleven, twelve, and they’re moulded from that age. Compare that to the previous generation – drivers like Fernando Alonso or Michael Schumacher only signed professional contracts when they were already in F3.
So it’s not surprising that Kimi arrives as a more finished package because he’s spent ten years within a professional framework, something his predecessors didn’t have." The schedule for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix weekend is packed with action across all categories. Thursday will feature the Drivers’ Press Conference at 2 p.m.
and the Paddock Uncut at 5 p.m. Friday’s agenda includes F3 practice at 8.50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., the first Spanish Grand Prix practice session at 12.30 p.m., F2 qualifying at 12.55 p.m., a Team Bosses’ Press Conference at 2.40 p.m., the second practice session at 3.45 p.m., F3 qualifying at 5.20 p.m., and The F1 Show at 6.20 p.m. Saturday’s lineup continues with the F3 sprint at 10 a.m., the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11.30 a.m., the F2 sprint at 1.10 p.m., the build‑up to qualifying at 2.15 p.m., the Spanish Grand Prix qualifying itself at 3 p.m., the F3 Feature Race 1 at 4.55 p.m., and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6 p.m.
Sunday concludes with the F3 Feature Race 2 at 8.40 a.m., the F2 Feature Race at 10.20 a.m., a Grand Prix build‑up at 12.30 p.m., the main race start at 2 p.m., the chequered flag and post‑race reaction at 4 p.m., and Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m. (The qualifying session will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.) Formula 1 will converge on Madrid’s new Madring circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix, with every session streamed live on Sky Sports F1.
Viewers can watch via the NOW platform with a flexible, cancel‑anytime subscription. In summary, Chandhok believes that steering Kimi Antonelli away from a premature Ferrari affiliation has allowed the teenager to develop under less intense scrutiny, giving him the freedom to focus on performance rather than national expectation. The partnership with Mercedes has provided a nurturing environment, a clear career trajectory, and the space for the young driver to mature into a world‑class champion without the overwhelming weight of representing Italy’s most iconic racing marque.