Stefano Domenicali tips Kimi Antonelli for future Ferrari title: “The dream for all Italians”. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praises Kimi Antonelli after his victory in China.

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, spoke about the extraordinary victory achieved by Kimi Antonelli at the Chinese Grand Prix. After twenty years, Italy has returned to the top step of the podium, an extraordinary moment that also moved the Italian manager himself. In an interview with Sportmediaset, he revealed: “Seeing such a young driver win the Chinese GP is something that benefits not only him but the entire sport. It’s also right not to put too much pressure on his shoulders, but he will have to get used to it.”

Antonelli celebrates his victory with his team

Mercedes is currently the car to beat, so Antonelli is in full contention for the championship against Ferrari. For Italian fans, the Maranello team has always been an institution, and according to Stefano Domenicali, the dream of many is that the young driver from Bologna could one day race in Red and become world champion: “Ferrari still means something incredibly important to Italians. It will be up to Kimi to channel this energy, which is focused on a team that has made history, in a different way. It’s clear that the dream of many Italians would be to see Kimi become world champion with Ferrari, to satisfy everyone,” he added.

Respected by champions: a new star is born

The praise from top drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton did not go unnoticed, and Stefano Domenicali emphasized: “It’s great that champions like Max and Lewis have recognized Kimi as not only a very fast driver but also a young man who has approached things with the right mindset and great respect. The compliments will become even more significant if Kimi, as we hope, continues to be the driver we all believe he is,” he concluded.

Stefano Domenicali’s comments underscore the massive cultural shift Antonelli’s win has triggered within the sport. While he is currently the spearhead of the Mercedes 2026 campaign, the romantic allure of a future Italian champion at Ferrari remains the dominant narrative in the Italian media. Based on the content of this historic win, the “Antonelli era” has officially arrived, and the pressure of being Italy’s next great hope is only just beginning.