“He reminds me of Niki Lauda”: Ferrari gives Kimi Antonelli a nod

A brand-new—and quite striking—comparison has emerged between Antonelli and a champion from the past. The comparison was made by Piero Ferrari in an interview with *Quotidiano Nazionale*. “Kimi reminds me of Niki—meaning Lauda. And from my point of view, that’s an extraordinary compliment—and obviously well-deserved,” the son of “Il Drake” asserts with conviction.

He adds… “The comparison holds up because Kimi, like Niki in his early days at Ferrari, immediately displayed a maturity that was downright surprising. I don’t recall any serious mistakes by the Austrian when my father entrusted him with our car. Similarly, Antonelli has managed to avoid the mistakes that stem from inexperience.”

“It might not happen as early as this Sunday in Texas, but frankly, it seems impossible to me that Antonelli could lose the title. And I’ll add right away that, given everything he’s shown us throughout the season, his success is stronger than any doubts,” the entrepreneur continues.

“Of course, I would have been happier if the world championship had been won by either Leclerc or Hamilton. But now that this prospect has proven unattainable, I’m pleased that it’s a son of our land—the land of motors—who will ascend to the throne of motorsports,” Ferrari admits.

Niki Lauda wrote some of the most important chapters in Ferrari’s Formula 1 history. The Austrian driver won two world championships with the Maranello team, in 1975 and 1977, becoming one of the great protagonists of the Prancing Horse’s golden age. His record at Maranello includes 15 Grand Prix victories between 1974 and 1977, a tally that attests to the fundamental role Lauda played in the history of the Italian team.