Kimi Antonelli: Behind-the-scenes news about Ferrari is causing a stir among Scuderia fans
Ferrari could have signed Kimi Antonelli when he was still a young boy, but chose not to. The inside story was revealed by Luca di Montezemolo during an interview with “As” and is sparking debate among Ferrari fans, bringing to the forefront an issue that—given how the 2026 Formula 1 championship is unfolding—risks becoming one of the team’s greatest regrets.
The former Ferrari president recounted having witnessed firsthand, long before anyone suspected it, the talent of the young driver from Bologna, who is now leading the world championship standings. “I’m a Ferrari man, but I’m very happy with what Antonelli is doing,” Montezemolo explained. “He’s an extraordinary young man, supported by a great family. He’s humble, down-to-earth, and very mentally strong. I hope he continues to uphold these values.”
The former Maranello boss then revealed the behind-the-scenes story that immediately sparked debate: “Ferrari had the chance to sign him, but didn’t—when we entrusted Massimo Rivola with responsibility for the youth program, Antonelli had already been identified as a talent to watch. However, the final decision went another way because Maurizio Arrivabene, the team principal at the time, still considered him too young.”
In this regard, Montezemolo noted that in Formula 1, the major teams have long since changed their approach to scouting talent: “When Hamilton joined McLaren, he was twelve years old, and just recently, Kimi Raikkonen’s son—who’s just turned eleven—signed with Red Bull. I must say, though, that it’s almost better for Antonelli: such a young Italian behind the wheel of a Ferrari would have faced enormous pressure. At Mercedes, he was able to make his debut without too much responsibility, grow, correct some mistakes, and improve.”
The former Ferrari president then expressed his agreement with Toto Wolff’s recent statements regarding the need for Italian fans not to create a dichotomy between Antonelli and Ferrari in the context of fan support: “I myself am a Ferrari fan who also supports Antonelli. On this point, I completely agree with Wolff.”
