Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes Ferrari has no choice but to sign newly crowned world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the future. The 96-year-old is convinced that the Italian driver’s attachment to his homeland could eventually lead him away from Mercedes and towards Maranello, while also predicting that the youngster could develop into another Max Verstappen.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already established himself as Formula 1’s newest world champion, but speculation about a potential future with Ferrari continues to attract attention. Bernie Ecclestone believes the connection between the Italian driver and the Scuderia is too strong to ignore, despite the success he has achieved with Mercedes.
Bernie Ecclestone believes Ferrari must sign Kimi Antonelli
There was a moment nine years ago when the careers of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari could have become intertwined. However, then-team principal Maurizio Arrivabene was reluctant to invest in a driver who was just 11 years old.
Mercedes took advantage of the opportunity, and the rest, as they say, is history. The circumstances surrounding that early decision have since returned to the spotlight, with Maurizio Arrivabene explaining why Ferrari passed on Andrea Kimi Antonelli at such a young age.
However, Bernie Ecclestone is convinced that the two parties will eventually come together.
“Ferrari has no choice, it must sign him. Kimi’s heart beats for Italy, and if he continues winning – and I am convinced he will – he will move to Ferrari out of love for his country,” the former Formula 1 chief explained to F1-Insider.
His prediction comes amid growing discussion about the Mercedes driver’s long-term future. Piero Ferrari has also expressed his dream of seeing Andrea Kimi Antonelli race for the Scuderia following the Italian’s 2026 championship triumph.
For now, Andrea Kimi Antonelli remains a Mercedes driver, and Bernie Ecclestone’s comments represent his personal expectation rather than a confirmed transfer. The world champion has previously addressed the possibility of racing for Ferrari, making clear that his immediate focus remains on succeeding with Mercedes while not ruling out a move later in his career.
Bernie Ecclestone compares Kimi Antonelli to Max Verstappen
Speaking separately to RacingNews365, Bernie Ecclestone also drew a striking comparison between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, suggesting that the newly crowned champion possesses the same relentless determination to succeed.
“I was hoping Kimi or Max would win. Although I don’t know him as well as Max, I think he will become another Max. He wants to win and will win at any cost. He is just like him in the sense that he gets into the car with only one thought in his mind: winning.”
For Bernie Ecclestone, the similarities extend beyond results. He believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli has the same single-minded approach to competition that has helped define Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 career. However, the former Formula 1 chief also identified an important difference between the family environments in which the two drivers developed.
“Max’s father was a little strict with him and pushed him to work hard and never give up. Kimi’s father, on the other hand, seems to be the opposite. He appears understanding and tries to keep him calm.”
Bernie Ecclestone predicts even greater success for Kimi Antonelli
Bernie Ecclestone, who has recently turned 96, made no secret of his admiration for the young Italian and believes that his extraordinary rise through Formula 1 is far from complete.
“We haven’t seen the best of him yet. We will be surprised by just how good he becomes. In two or three years, he will become another Max. He needs to go through some difficult moments to toughen his character. And because he is so young, he can easily break all the records,” Bernie Ecclestone concluded.
His assessment reflects a belief that Andrea Kimi Antonelli still has considerable room for development despite already securing the Formula 1 World Championship with Mercedes.
Whether that future eventually includes Ferrari remains uncertain. What is clear is that Bernie Ecclestone expects the Italian’s success to continue and believes that his connection to his homeland could ultimately play a decisive role in determining where he races later in his career.
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