Antonelli: I don't rule out Ferrari move, but focus is Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli has neither confirmed nor ruled out a future Ferrari move, but the 20-year-old's immediate priority is clear: win as much as possible with Mercedes. With an 81-point lead over George Russell and eight wins to two, he is on the verge of becoming the youngest champion in F1 history.

Why it matters:

An Italian world champion would be a seismic event for the sport. Antonelli is set to become the first Italian to win a title since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and the first full-time Italian Ferrari driver since Michele Alboreto in 1985 remains a tantalizing possibility.

The details:

• Championship form: Antonelli leads teammate Russell by 81 points with eight wins, putting him on track to break Sebastian Vettel's youngest-champion record by more than three years.
• On Ferrari: "Now I'm fine where I am," he told Automoto Italy. "I don't rule anything out, but today the goal is to win as much as possible with Mercedes."
• Mercedes loyalty: "I owe them a debt for all the opportunities they have given me. They believed in me when I was only 12 years old."
• Monza heroics: Antonelli won from 19th on the grid at the Italian GP, the first Italian to win his home race since 1966.

What's next:

Antonelli's focus is on sealing the title with Mercedes. But with Ferrari's long-standing search for an Italian hero, the speculation around a future move is unlikely to fade — especially if he keeps delivering on the biggest stages.