Andrea Kimi Antonelli left some ambiguity regarding questions about a hypothetical future Ferrari Formula 1 drive at an awards ceremony in Italy.
The Italian teenager has made a remarkable start to his 2026 F1 season, with 43-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell with four successive victories in five Grands Prix.
It leaves Antonelli with the credentials to be considered a genuine title contender against his experienced Silver Arrows stablemate, something scarcely believable last year.
After a difficult debut year, Antonelli’s place in the sport was often questioned, having taken his spot in the team in place of the legendary Lewis Hamilton.
But another symbol of his turnaround was exemplified with his awarding of the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini Trophy, given to a team or individual for their achivement in motorsport.
Created in 1992, Trofeo Bandini was named in honour of the former F1 star, who perished in a crash at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix whilst driving for Ferrari.
“It is a true honour to be part of this event and to receive such a special award,” Antonelli said.
“Being here today, surrounded by so much support and positivity, makes this moment even more meaningful.
“This is an experience I will never forget, and I feel incredibly grateful to share it with all of you.
“I would like to dedicate this trophy to my family, my amazing team, and everyone here today who has supported me throughout this journey – your encouragement and belief in me have made all the difference, and I am deeply thankful for each and every one of you.”
‘We’ll see’: Antonelli stops just short of Ferrari denial
Despite its rich heritage and proud Italian identity, Ferrari has, in more recent years, seen few Italian drivers in its cars.
Giancarlo Fisichella and then-long-term test driver Luca Badoer were the last to race the famous red cars, in 2009, in replacement of the injured Felipe Massa.
The last full-time Italian driver to race for Ferrari in F1 was Ivan Capelli, who competed alongside Jean Alesi in the 1992 season, and was replaced by Gianni Morbidelli for the final round.
With Antonelli exceeding many people’s expectations, including his own, at this stage of the campaign, it is natural for Italy to be collectively excited at the prospect of one of its own racing for one of its own.
And the 19-year-old did not entirely rule out the possibility one day.
“Ferrari is a huge team with an incredible following and will remain in history forever. But I am a Mercedes driver, and my goal is to win with Mercedes,” he began.
“They gave me a great opportunity from a young age, supported me throughout my entire journey, and I feel a duty to give my best for this team.
“Then, we’ll see.”
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