Speculation about a possible future move to Ferrari for newly crowned 2026 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli has reopened a much bigger debate: does the prestige of the Prancing Horse still carry enough weight to attract the sport’s best drivers? With Mercedes enjoying championship success and Ferrari continuing to struggle to achieve its ambitions, the question is becoming increasingly relevant.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship in only his second season, placing himself firmly at the centre of the media spotlight. And rightly so. The Italian has achieved something that relatively few drivers manage during their entire careers, including Lewis Hamilton. More importantly, he accomplished it after completely transforming the trajectory of his previous season, which featured more lows than highs, a particularly disappointing European campaign and considerable criticism.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli never responded to those negative voices with words. He did not blame the media, Mercedes or his teammate for disappointing performances. Instead, he answered by lowering his visor, pressing the accelerator and delivering one result after another, breaking records along the way.
Kimi Antonelli and the Ferrari dream: why a future move to Maranello is being discussed
When a Formula 1 driver starts winning, opinions often change remarkably quickly. At the very least, success encourages speculation about what might come next. In Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s case, attention has already turned towards his long-term future after he brought Italy back to the top of the Formula 1 world for the first time in 73 years, following the era of Nino Farina and two-time world champion Alberto Ascari.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is an Italian driver who became world champion with Mercedes, a German team and one of Ferrari’s most important direct rivals. That rivalry extends beyond the current season and has historical significance, particularly in terms of power-unit competition, even when the two manufacturers have not been fighting directly for the Constructors’ Championship.
It is therefore hardly surprising that the possibility of Andrea Kimi Antonelli eventually wearing Ferrari red has captured the imagination. Among those to discuss the prospect is former Haas team principal Günther Steiner, who suggested that the Italian could probably find himself at Maranello in around ten years.
Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has also acknowledged that, if Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues winning, he could very well end up driving for Ferrari. Such a decision might also be influenced by his affection for Italy and the passionate support of Italian fans. Former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, similarly suggested that the driver of car number 12 would probably end up racing for the Italian team, the most successful in Formula 1 history.
There is nothing wrong with imagining such a scenario. Sometimes these discussions are driven by genuine passion; on other occasions, they fuel rumours that ultimately prove unfounded. However, perhaps the most sensible approach would be to ask Andrea Kimi Antonelli directly what he wants from his future. Does he genuinely dream of racing for the Prancing Horse one day?
That question becomes particularly interesting when Ferrari’s current situation is considered. Why would Andrea Kimi Antonelli choose a team that has not won a Drivers’ Championship for almost two decades, has endured a similarly lengthy wait for a Constructors’ Championship and continues to struggle to maintain the competitiveness required to achieve its objectives?
Ferrari has repeatedly postponed its championship ambitions from one season to the next. The wider concerns surrounding the team’s progress are reflected in the failure to meet John Elkann’s championship deadline, another indication of the distance between Maranello’s expectations and its results.
Why, then, would Andrea Kimi Antonelli want to join such a team? The Italian has already acknowledged how much he owes Mercedes, and there is every possibility that he could spend his entire Formula 1 career with the German manufacturer. His comments about his future and loyalty to Mercedes underline the strength of that relationship.
Ultimately, these discussions lead to a much broader question: does Ferrari still possess the same appeal it once did?
Is Ferrari’s historic prestige still enough to attract world champions?
The Prancing Horse occupies a unique place in Formula 1 history. It has often been argued that if Ferrari ever left the championship, Formula 1 itself would lose part of its identity. Yet the landscape has changed considerably over the years, particularly with the emergence of new generations of drivers and increasingly competitive teams.
Consider Red Bull’s success, McLaren’s relatively brief period of renewed competitiveness, Mercedes’ return to the front and the arrival of manufacturers that, despite currently occupying positions further down the grid, have ambitious plans to become established contenders.
Audi is one example, having entered Formula 1 with a clearly defined project and a specific long-term ambition. Against this changing background, it is reasonable to ask whether Ferrari still enjoys the same attraction. How many drivers would genuinely want to race for Maranello today, given the team’s current sporting situation?
Lewis Hamilton provides an interesting comparison. The seven-time world champion belongs to a generation of drivers who arguably regarded Ferrari as the ultimate destination, or at least one of the greatest achievements possible in a racing career. Similar considerations could apply to Sebastian Vettel and perhaps Fernando Alonso.
Both Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso arrived at Ferrari from relatively privileged positions in their careers. They had already achieved many of the goals they had pursued since their junior racing days. Their moves to Maranello were not necessarily intended to bring their careers to an end, but also reflected the desire to win a world championship with the Italian team.
This does not mean that winning with Ferrari is unimportant. Rather, the fundamental objective of a Formula 1 driver is to become world champion, and that achievement does not necessarily have to come with the team founded by Enzo Ferrari.
For drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, a world championship in Ferrari colours would represent, or would have represented, something extra: an achievement capable of adding even greater significance and prestige to an already remarkable career.
That distinction matters because Ferrari’s appeal to an established champion is not necessarily the same as its appeal to a younger driver still building a career. The history of the Prancing Horse remains powerful, but history alone does not guarantee the machinery needed to win.
Max Verstappen and Ferrari: why prestige alone may no longer convince drivers
There are also drivers from subsequent generations, such as Max Verstappen, who do not necessarily feel compelled to join Ferrari in pursuit of success. A few races ago, the Dutchman questioned why he should leave Red Bull’s base in Milton Keynes if doing so would mean finishing only fourth or fifth.
His position prompted considerable debate, with some supporters agreeing with his reasoning and others taking a different view.
Why should Max Verstappen move to Ferrari when everything at Red Bull is working so well for him? This question becomes even more relevant when considering the team’s development during 2026. Red Bull introduced its first power unit, overcame difficulties through a technical recovery and has gradually put Max Verstappen in a position to challenge for the world championship again in 2027.
Why would he exchange that environment for Ferrari when Maranello continues to postpone its primary objective of winning the world championship?
Another school of thought suggests that Max Verstappen succeeds because Red Bull has been built around him. According to this argument, moving elsewhere might prevent him from recreating the same working environment and establishing the relationships and internal dynamics that have contributed to his achievements.
However, that theory also raises questions about Ferrari’s own difficulties, particularly the organisational level at which its most significant problems appear to originate.
Max Verstappen’s reasoning is not entirely without merit. Formula 1 has evolved, and at times the sport appears to be moving in a different direction from the teams themselves, and even from the FIA. The mentality of the championship and the operating methods of its competitors have changed profoundly, not only compared with 20 years ago but even compared with a decade ago.
Ferrari’s organisational structure faces questions as F1 evolves
Looking at internal policies, the concentration of responsibility within management structures, team hierarchies and the broader organisation of a Formula 1 operation, Ferrari appears to remain attached to a model that no longer fully reflects the demands of the modern championship.
This is not about prescribing exactly how Ferrari should manage its team or drivers. However, when the same difficulties emerge season after season, when the individuals involved change but the underlying problems remain, it becomes increasingly difficult to argue that substantial changes are unnecessary.
Other teams have demonstrated a willingness to make significant adjustments. Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren have all undergone important transformations. Alpine provides another example, having taken the drastic decision to abandon Renault power units in favour of Mercedes engines, helping the team improve its competitive position and establish stronger foundations for the new regulatory cycle.
Ferrari, meanwhile, continues to face questions about whether its internal structure is capable of delivering the progress required. The contrast between the Italian team’s ambitions and those of its competitors can also be examined through Ferrari’s performance against its Formula 1 rivals, including Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren.
The issue is not simply whether Ferrari can attract an exceptional driver. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival already demonstrated that the team retains the ability to recruit one of the sport’s biggest names. The more important question is whether Maranello can provide the sporting environment that convinces its drivers they can achieve their ultimate ambitions.
Ferrari’s historic appeal remains, but competitiveness must come first
Another consideration strengthens this argument. As has recently been highlighted, numerous individuals who left Maranello have subsequently enjoyed success elsewhere, contributing to the achievements of rival teams.
So does Ferrari still have the same appeal? Probably, but no longer unconditionally.
The fascination surrounding the Prancing Horse remains something unique in Formula 1. It is a legacy built through decades of history, victories and passion. Ferrari continues to represent much more than an ordinary racing team, and its identity remains deeply connected to the history of the championship.
Nevertheless, for a driver whose primary ambition is to win, prestige alone cannot be enough. The strength of the sporting project, the competitiveness of the car and the team’s ability to create an environment in which drivers can achieve their objectives are equally important.
Ferrari can still represent a dream, but it must also become a team that drivers can trust to deliver sporting success. Wanting to wear Ferrari red is one thing; believing that you can win while wearing it is something entirely different.
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