Gian Carlo Minardi spoke to Fanpage.it about who Kimi Antonelli really is following his historic victory at the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. From his close connection with the 19-year-old driver’s family to the intriguing Ferrari-Mercedes background story, Minardi offered a detailed and insightful perspective.
Kimi Antonelli is no longer just the highly rated Mercedes prospect or the young Italian talent attracting attention in Formula 1. In Shanghai, during the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, the 19-year-old from Bologna transformed his immense potential into a historic achievement. He secured pole position and then claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory, also setting the fastest lap of the race. In doing so, he became the youngest polesitter in F1 history and the second-youngest race winner ever in the World Championship.
This remarkable accomplishment has also reignited Italy’s presence and influence within the Formula 1 paddock. It prompted Fanpage.it to reach out to Gian Carlo Minardi, someone who has not simply observed Antonelli from afar. Minardi has known him since childhood, is familiar with his father Marco Antonelli, and fully understands the journey that brought him to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Minardi himself needs no introduction. As the founder and former team principal of the Minardi Formula 1 team, he played a key role in Italian motorsport history. Today, he remains a central figure in the racing scene through his work with ACI Sport. Antonelli’s rise is also linked to Minardi’s son, Giovanni, who was among the first to recognize his extraordinary talent and helped establish the connection with Mercedes when Kimi was still a child.
In his interview with Fanpage.it, Minardi did not limit himself to standard praise. He revealed the moment he realized Antonelli was “different,” explained the crucial role played by his family, and made a bold statement regarding a potential Ferrari move: “If he had gone to Ferrari, today he probably wouldn’t even be in Formula 1.”
“When did you realize Kimi Antonelli was a special talent?”
“This is something my son Giovanni has also spoken about. We were together in Sarno during a Summer Kart event organized by ACI Sport, and it was immediately clear that this kid, even though he was only 10 years old, was something different. Then my son did a great job bringing him to Mercedes and, with the team’s support but above all thanks to his own talent and ability, Kimi has improved year after year until reaching Formula 1.”
“How important were his father Marco, his family environment, and growing up in motorsport?”
“It is certainly a special family, one that supported him without pushing him to do things he did not want to do. Fortunately, he has incredible natural talent, and the family, like everything surrounding an athlete, is decisive in achieving certain results. Of course, having a father who raced and runs a team also helped his development.”
“What role did his father Marco play in his journey?”
“From what I have seen, Marco was not intrusive with his son. Kimi followed his own path. On the other hand, he does not need much advice: he is a special boy, someone who rarely repeats a mistake once he makes it. He is very determined, so you have to let him work.”
“Everyone is talking about the result in China. What impressed you the most?”
“I believe the way he handles pressure had already been evident last year, when unfortunately—and I am sorry about this—he was criticized from all sides during a difficult moment that, in my opinion, was not entirely his fault but due to various factors related to the team and other circumstances.”
“What did the Shanghai race show you?”
“The fact that in the early races he made mistakes at the start and then did not repeat them in the start that really mattered is a sign of great ability and strong concentration. Above all, it shows that he is a driver capable of putting worries behind him.”
“Is this now the most difficult phase for him?”
“Yes, because now everyone knows him, everyone wants to speak to him, everyone wants to interview him, and everyone says he is the future world champion. You have to stay grounded, keep working, and remember that he is only 19 years old and still has room to improve, even though he started from a very high level. Hopefully, he will give us more satisfaction soon.”
“A provocative question: did Antonelli win because he is exceptional or because Mercedes gave him a superior car?”
“I do not know how you watch Grands Prix, but I look at lap times. Throughout the race, as the fuel load decreased, Antonelli kept lapping within the same thousandths of a second. His teammate, who is one of the three or four strongest drivers in the world, tried to catch him and failed. And Antonelli, on lap 43 out of 45 with the same tyres, set the fastest lap. I do not think there is anything else to explain.”
“Antonelli’s personality seems very different from many young drivers today—calm, composed, already mature. Is that an advantage?”
“For me, it is an advantage because it attracts a lot of sympathy, especially among young fans. I hope this Formula 1, which is like a Caterpillar, does not change him. For now, it has not, and he is still the Antonelli I met 10 years ago. But we will see, because Formula 1 means many races, many sponsor commitments, a lot of stress, and unfortunately also a lot of envy. Everyone is ready to praise you when things go well and criticize you when they do not. But I am confident: he is very mature for his age, and I hope he remains the same person he has always been.”
“There has been talk that Ferrari wanted to monitor him when he was just eight years old, when Massimo Rivola was still there…”
“On this point, things need to be clarified. Massimo Rivola is an excellent manager; he started working at Minardi the day after graduating. Given the relationship of friendship and work, it was right that my son told him that Kimi Antonelli was a driver worth keeping an eye on.”
“So informing Ferrari was the right thing to do?”
“Yes, it was the right thing to do because of the friendship and professional relationship that still exists today. Absolutely.”
“Another provocative question: if Antonelli had gone to Ferrari instead of Mercedes, would we still be talking about him in the same way?”
“As I have already said: today he probably would not even be in Formula 1.”
“From a technical and mental perspective, does he remind you of anyone?”
“I am an external observer. Through ACI Sport and the Federal School, where I have the honor of being a supervisor, I have followed his growth as well as that of many others. I can only say that he is a unique, special boy, with natural gifts given to him by God. He is a hard worker, very grounded, and I hope he stays that way. He will certainly show us even greater things in the future.”
“What is the biggest risk for Antonelli today: technical or psychological?”
“It is clear that without the right car, you go nowhere. You see it with Verstappen struggling today, and we saw it with Hamilton last year. The driver is a major part of the result, but without the car you cannot go far. So the biggest issue right now is technical. However, Mercedes seems to be handling it very well.”
“After such a victory, could the hierarchy within Mercedes change?”
“I am not Toto Wolff; I am Gian Carlo Minardi, and I look at things race by race. Certainly, both drivers will have the same opportunities. There is no need to start talking about internal battles now. Let him work, and let’s not create controversy for the sake of it.”
“Does Antonelli already have what it takes to become a future world champion?”
“Antonelli is 19 years old. I believe he is the youngest polesitter ever and the second-youngest race winner behind only Verstappen, who has already won four world titles. He has all the qualities to do well. Now it will depend on him, the team, and his approach to work. He must continue to develop because there are still many things to learn. Let’s leave him alone, avoid exaggeration. We are fortunate to have a strong Italian driver—let him work, disturb him as little as possible, and hopefully we can enjoy more moments like we did last Sunday in China.”
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