Former Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has revealed how the Maranello team missed the opportunity to sign Andrea Kimi Antonelli before the young Italian joined Mercedes. According to Montezemolo, Massimo Rivola wanted to bring the talented youngster into the Ferrari Driver Academy, but then-team principal Maurizio Arrivabene rejected the move because he considered Antonelli too young.
The decision has taken on even greater significance following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary rise in Formula 1. The Mercedes driver has dominated the 2026 season at the wheel of the W17, becoming a national sporting hero while leaving Ferrari to reflect on a missed opportunity that could have changed the future of Italian motorsport.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes success highlights Ferrari’s missed opportunity
For the first time in 73 years, Italy has come remarkably close to celebrating one of its own drivers as Formula 1 world champion. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old from Bologna, has dominated the season, overwhelming his rivals in the Mercedes W17 and putting himself in a position to become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
It is a source of enormous pride for Italian motorsport, but also a painful reminder of what might have been for Ferrari. For the first time in many years, the Prancing Horse has had to share the spotlight, and the affections of Italian Formula 1 supporters, with another team.
Perhaps the clearest illustration came at Monza. Thousands of Ferrari supporters arrived in the grandstands dreaming of a victory for the Scuderia, only to end their Sunday celebrating Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s historic triumph. The Italian recovered from 19th on the grid to take victory in front of an ecstatic crowd. The fact that his racing overalls were not red mattered little to the celebrating fans.
For Ferrari, however, the success of a driver who could once have joined its junior programme inevitably raises questions about the decisions made during his early career.
Montezemolo reveals why Ferrari rejected Kimi Antonelli
In one of the many fascinating turning points in Formula 1 history, Andrea Kimi Antonelli could have developed his talent within Ferrari rather than Mercedes. It has long been known that the Italian attracted interest from Maranello when he was still a young karting driver, before Mercedes eventually secured his services.
Former Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has now provided further details in an extensive interview with Spanish publication AS. His account broadly matches the version previously given by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s father, Marco Antonelli, and places responsibility for the unsuccessful recruitment attempt on Maurizio Arrivabene, who served as Ferrari team principal from November 2014 until January 2019.
“I am a Ferrari man, but I am delighted to see what Antonelli is doing,” Montezemolo explained. “He is an extraordinary young man, supported by a wonderful family. Humble, with his feet firmly on the ground. Kimi is mentally strong, and I hope he maintains that integrity and those values.”
The former Ferrari president then revealed the decision that prevented the Italian youngster from joining the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“What I regret is that Ferrari had the opportunity to sign him but did not do so. I had appointed Massimo Rivola to lead the ‘young drivers’ team. He already had Antonelli at Ferrari, but Maurizio Arrivabene — who was team principal at the time — said no. Why? In his opinion, he was too young.”
Montezemolo questioned the reasoning behind that decision, pointing to examples of other Formula 1 teams investing in exceptionally young talent.
“They did not realise that Hamilton had joined McLaren at the age of twelve. Just look at recent events: Kimi Räikkönen’s son, Robin, has only just signed a contract with Red Bull. He is eleven years old.”
The former Ferrari president’s comments highlight the difference between the approaches taken by the two teams. While Ferrari hesitated over committing to Andrea Kimi Antonelli at such a young age, Mercedes recognised the opportunity to develop him through its own junior programme.
Why Montezemolo believes missing Ferrari move may have helped Antonelli
There is an important distinction regarding the period described by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. He was no longer Ferrari president when the events took place, having been succeeded by Sergio Marchionne, then chief executive of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, on 13 October 2014.
Nevertheless, Montezemolo remains convinced that Ferrari missed an important opportunity by failing to bring Andrea Kimi Antonelli into its Driver Academy. At the same time, he believes that the outcome may paradoxically have benefited the young Italian’s development.
“A great opportunity was missed, but perhaps it was a good thing for Antonelli himself. Such a young Italian driving a Ferrari… the pressure would have been enormous,” Montezemolo observed.
The former Ferrari president believes that joining Mercedes allowed Andrea Kimi Antonelli to develop without the enormous expectations that would have accompanied an Italian driver making his Formula 1 debut for the Prancing Horse.
“Instead, he made his debut last year without too much weight on his shoulders, because the Mercedes car was not competitive. He was able to grow and improve. He ironed out some mistakes. This year, with a better car, he has shown what he is worth.”
Montezemolo concluded by making it clear that his loyalty to Ferrari does not prevent him from celebrating Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s achievements with Mercedes.
“Yes, I am a Ferrari man who supports him. I completely agree with Wolff,” he concluded, referring to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
For Ferrari, the episode represents another reminder of how decisions made early in a driver’s career can shape the future of Formula 1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli could have grown up within the Ferrari Driver Academy, but instead developed under Mercedes’ guidance and went on to establish himself as one of the sport’s leading talents.
Yet Montezemolo’s assessment is not simply one of regret. Although Ferrari missed the opportunity to recruit Andrea Kimi Antonelli, he believes that avoiding the pressure of an early association with the Scuderia may have helped the Italian develop into the driver he has become.
Leave a Reply