Kimi Antonelli Won’t Rule Out Ferrari After Ecclestone Says ‘They Have to Do It’

Kimi Antonelli can’t see himself anywhere but Mercedes for now, but he isn’t ruling out Ferrari after Bernie Ecclestone predicted he’ll switch one day.

Already, when he landed an F1 seat, the chatter grew that Antonelli would one day drive for Ferrari. A top Italian driver racing for the ultimate Italian team feels like a story written in the stars.

For a long time, Ferrari has tried to get an Italian in its car. They got Giancarlo Fisichella back in the day and were preparing the likes of Antonio Giovinazzi and Antonio Fuoco for the ultimate switch, but it didn’t work out in the end.

Both are still part of the Ferrari family in sports cars. But there is no doubt that Ferrari would keep an eye on Antonelli, even though they have the likes of Oliver Bearman and even Rafael Camara in their ranks as F1 juniors.

Ecclestone: ‘Kimi’s Heart Beats Italian’

For now, they are satisfied with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, but there is growing tension among them. With Antonelli now the F1 champion, his stock has gone up considerably, and the Italian pull is still there.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes he will drive for Ferrari one day, for Italy. “Ferrari has no choice, they have to do it,” he told F1-Insider. “And Kimi’s heart beats Italian. If he continues to win, and I’m convinced he will, he’ll switch to Ferrari out of love for his country.”

Even Piero Ferrari has kept the door open for Antonelli, even comparing him to Niki Lauda. His son reportedly wants an Italian in the team too. But does the newly crowned champion want it? He isn’t ruling it out.

Antonelli Doesn’t Rule Out a Ferrari Move

For now, it is all Mercedes for him, naturally. But in the future, who knows? “I wouldn’t see myself anywhere else but Mercedes, especially now,” said Antonelli in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “They signed me when I was 11, took a risk with me, and have always believed in me.

“I’m incredibly happy with where I am, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve done together and will continue to do. They’ve become a second family to me, and I think I’ve really taken a big step this year when I realized the team accepted me for who I am. And then for the future, very far away, who knows. We’ll see,” he said.