Andrea Kimi Antonelli is one of the most successful drivers to debut in Formula 1 this season. In the lead-up to his first Grand Prix, there were doubts about his accelerated debut – had Toto Wolff placed too much faith in this teenager? However, after several points finishes, the 18-year-old Italian seems to be gearing up for a long career in the sport. Will Antonelli commit to Ferrari in the long run?
Antonelli’s first steps in Formula 1 are not easily forgotten. Just one day before he was announced as the long-awaited successor to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, he crashed George Russell‘s W15 during the first free practice in Monza. Yet, Antonelli was offered a contract and has – so far – managed to redeem himself. In the first three Grands Prix, he consistently finished in the points. Since Lewis Hamilton’s debut in 2007, no rookie has achieved this feat.
The question remains whether Antonelli will always drive for Mercedes – an Italian driver of his caliber would undoubtedly also feel at home at, for example, Ferrari. The last Ferrari driver of Italian origin was Giancarlo Fisichella, who raced for the Scuderia during the GP of Abu Dhabi in 2009. That was also the last year an Italian finished on the podium: during the GP of Japan, Jarno Trulli finished behind race winner Sebastian Vettel.
Main Role in Formula 1
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently expressed his support for a partnership between Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli during a radio interview with Italian station Rai GR Parlamento: “An Italian driver in an Italian car! That would be fantastic. In Italy, we definitely need a driver who can serve as a role model for our youth. I just think Toto Wolff might not agree,” he joked.
“We just need to let him (Antonelli) grow,” continued Domenicali, who was once the team boss at Ferrari. “He’s an extraordinary young man, and I appreciate his values. When we see him entering the paddock hand in hand with his little sister, we see the romantic side of the sport. But as soon as he pulls down his visor, he’s lightning fast. I don’t want to compare him to a world champion just yet – we’ll have to wait a bit for that. But I expect him to play a main role in Formula 1.”
