Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has expressed his regret that Kimi Antonelli did not win the Formula 1 world championship at the wheel of a Ferrari, while leaving open the possibility of a future move to the Scuderia.
Speaking on Rai Gr Parlamento’s “La politica nel pallone,” the former Ferrari president said Antonelli would have faced significant pressure at the Italian team, but hoped he could eventually drive for Ferrari in the coming years. At the same time, Montezemolo said Italians and Formula 1 fans should celebrate the driver’s achievement regardless of the team he represents.
Montezemolo described Antonelli as one of the sport’s great talents after his title-winning season, highlighting his performance against Mercedes teammate George Russell. He expressed the hope that Antonelli could achieve a career comparable to those of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, while cautioning against placing excessive pressure on the young driver.
The former Ferrari president also credited Antonelli’s family for providing a united and supportive environment. He praised the driver’s simplicity, humility and determination, saying that his ability to remain focused had been central to his success.
According to Montezemolo, Antonelli’s previous season in a non-winning car was also important to his development. That experience helped prepare him for the opportunity to compete with a stronger machine, where he demonstrated his ability to outperform his teammate.
Montezemolo ultimately said he would have preferred Antonelli to bring his popularity to Ferrari rather than Mercedes, but maintained that the Italian driver has a major career ahead of him.
Sources: ANSA Sport.