Steiner: Italian Fans Are Overlooking Antonelli Because of Ferrari Obsession

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Kimi Antonelli is being shortchanged by the Italian public, arguing that the country's deep-rooted obsession with Ferrari is overshadowing the 19-year-old's remarkable championship campaign. Despite leading the 2026 drivers' standings with six victories, Antonelli remains in the Scuderia's shadow within his home market.

Why it matters:

Italy has lacked a genuine world-class F1 driver for decades, yet Steiner says the fanbase still treats Ferrari as the de facto national team rather than embracing a homegrown talent. The dynamic means Antonelli—who currently holds a 45-point lead over Lewis Hamilton—is fighting for domestic recognition in a culture that traditionally measures success in rosso corsa.

The details:

• Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast after Antonelli's Spa win, Steiner said Italian journalists agreed that the Mercedes driver "doesn't get the credit he deserves somehow."
• Steiner compared Antonelli's situation to that of tennis star Jannik Sinner, noting both are elite Italian athletes but only Sinner is capturing the domestic spotlight.
• Antonelli's breakout has been one of 2026's biggest surprises. After George Russell entered the year as Mercedes' title hope, the Italian rookie seized the initiative with back-to-back wins in China and Japan, then added victories in Miami, Canada, Monaco and Belgium.
• Steiner urged fans to stop putting "all your eggs in that basket: Ferrari," insisting there is finally a world-class Italian driver "out there who you can cheer on."

What's next:

With 204 points and a commanding championship lead, Antonelli's credentials are beyond question. The remaining issue is whether Italy's sporting culture can shift quickly enough to celebrate a Mercedes driver as one of its own, or if the Ferrari-centric narrative will continue to mute his accomplishments as the season unfolds.