Kimi Antonelli Keeps Ferrari Option Open Despite Mercedes Title Charge

Kimi Antonelli isn't closing the door on a future Ferrari drive, even as he dominates the 2026 season with Mercedes. The 19-year-old Italian leads the Drivers' Championship by 43 points after winning his first four grands prix, but during the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy ceremony he made clear that while his loyalty is to Mercedes, the allure of Ferrari remains.

Why it matters:

Antonelli is the first Italian to lead the F1 championship since... well, ever at this age. A move to Ferrari would be a massive story for Italy and the sport — the last Italian to race for the Scuderia was Giancarlo Fisichella in 2009. With Antonelli's contract at Mercedes only secured through 2026, the speculation isn't going away.

The details:

• Antonelli's Mercedes contract expires at the end of this season, with a one-year extension for 2026 already agreed. Team principal Toto Wolff sees him as the future of Brackley.
• Asked about Ferrari, Antonelli said: "Ferrari is a huge team with an incredible following... but I am a Mercedes driver, and my goal is to win with Mercedes. They gave me a great opportunity from a young age... Then, we'll see."
• Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admitted it "bothered me a bit to see him in a Mercedes" but added that putting Antonelli in Ferrari immediately "would have destroyed him" due to pressure.
• Antonelli became the youngest-ever championship leader and the first driver to win his first four F1 races in succession.

What's next:

This weekend's Monaco Grand Prix could test the Mercedes resurgence. Antonelli tipped Ferrari as "the team to beat" thanks to their low-speed downforce advantage. Mercedes hasn't won in Monaco since Lewis Hamilton in 2019. If Antonelli extends his streak, the Ferrari rumors will only grow louder.