Valentino Rossi Weighs In on Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli continues to amaze the Formula 1 world and earn praise from every corner of the paddock. The very young Mercedes driver, the current leader of the 2026 World Championship, is having a season as the undisputed star, racking up victories, records, and performances that have confirmed his exceptional talent. It’s not just his speed and results that are impressive, but also the personality and maturity with which the 19-year-old from Bologna takes on the best drivers in the series.
Among those who have praised the Italian’s talent is Valentino Rossi. The nine-time MotoGP World Champion, speaking to Sky Sport, discussed Formula 1 and the moment Antonelli is currently experiencing, expressing great admiration for the young driver from Emilia.
Rossi first explained his relationship with Ferrari and Italian fans, emphasizing that his perspective is focused primarily on the drivers rather than the teams: “Ferrari is a religion in Italy, as you can imagine, and, of course, Italians are happy when Ferrari wins. But I’m more of a fan of the drivers.”
A statement that perfectly clarifies how he follows the World Championship. The “Doctor,” in fact, pays particular attention to the qualities of individual drivers, regardless of the colors of their cars: “I follow what Lando Norris does, what Lewis Hamilton does; I’m interested in the drivers. So I don’t really care if someone races for McLaren or Ferrari.”
It is precisely for this reason that his assessment of Antonelli takes on even greater significance. Rossi expressed enthusiasm for the young Mercedes driver’s qualities and is convinced that he can finally bring Italy back to the top of Formula 1, ending a wait that has lasted for decades: “Obviously, now I’m rooting for Kimi Antonelli. He’s an enormous talent, incredibly fast, and in Italy we haven’t had a driver win the World Championship in the last 70 years. So this is truly special.”
These words serve as further endorsement for Antonelli, who is increasingly regarded as one of the leading figures of Formula 1’s new generation and the driver on whom Italian fans are pinning their greatest hopes for bringing the Italian flag back to the top of the sport’s premier class.
