Kimi Antonelli-Ferrari, Steiner Speaks Candidly: “Italians Are Wondering”

Former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner, in an interview with RacingNews365, spoke about Andrea Kimi Antonelli and the possibility of him one day racing behind the wheel of a Ferrari: “Many Italians are asking, ‘Why isn’t he driving for us?’ The only thing that isn’t quite perfect for Italy is that there’s an Italian champion who isn’t racing for Ferrari.”

Antonelli has repeatedly reaffirmed his loyalty and gratitude to Mercedes, which he considers “a family,” but according to Steiner, it’s only a matter of time: “I think at some point… Think about it, he’s 20 years old. He’s so young, so at some point, sooner or later, he’ll drive for Ferrari.”

“Will it happen in the short term? No. Maybe it’ll take 10 years. But at some point, obviously, being Italian and with that kind of talent, he’ll get there. Or at any rate, Ferrari will sign him. He could leave tomorrow, if he wanted to.”

According to former Haas executive Antonelli, he’ll remain at the top of his game for years to come: “In motorsport, especially in F1, you have to be in the right place at the right time, and he’s managed to do that: he’s in the right place at the right time. Mercedes is very strong, even if it isn’t dominating, and that’s good for everyone.”

“Kimi wins because he has a good car and is the best right now, but I’m pretty sure he’ll win a few more world championships in the future.”

The driver from Bologna clinched his first world title in Mexico and, in recent days, kept the promise he made after his triumph by dyeing his hair in the colors of the Italian flag. He showed off his new look in Brackley in front of Mercedes employees. Toto Wolff, seeing him arrive, joked, “Did you actually pay for that?” The World Championship will now continue in Las Vegas, where Antonelli will return to the cockpit to bring an already historic season to a fitting close.