Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has delivered a characteristically candid verdict on Kimi Antonelli’s breakthrough victory with Mercedes at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.
The Italian anthem ringing out from a Formula 1 podium is a sound many feared had been lost to history.
But in Shanghai, Antonelli ended a grueling 20-year drought for his home country, sparking a wave of national pride and a pointed "I told you so" from di Montezemolo, one of the sport's most legendary figures
Maturity beyond his years
Antonelli’s drive in Shanghai was more than just a win; it was a statement of intent. For a teenager carrying the weight of a racing-mad nation, the pressure could have been suffocating.
Instead, the teenager displayed a clinical edge that left Montezemolo highly impressed.
"His victory moved me; he's a 19-year-old who's constantly improving," he told Corriere della Sera.
"He'd had trouble starting, yet he didn't lose heart: he took the lead and led without hesitation, only taking risks at the end.
“He showed maturity and composure, uncharacteristic of an Italian, and especially not of someone his age. He has his feet on the ground, and I hope he stays that way; all the potential is there.
“But it was a little annoying to see him in a Mercedes."
The Ferrari ‘glass house’
When pressed on whether he would have preferred to see the young prodigy draped in Ferrari red, di Montezemolo was blunt: "Exactly."
However, the veteran executive – who oversaw the golden era of Michael Schumacher at the Scuderia –is under no illusions about the volatile nature of the "Italian driver-Ferrari" partnership.
In Montezemolo’s view, the modern F1 landscape allows teams to spot talent earlier through simulators, yet the psychological toll of the Scuderia remains unique.
He argues that beginning his F1 career in Ferrari red would have likely been a catastrophic mistake for Antonelli’s career.
"The situation today is different than it was years ago: they don't just look at karting results, but also at simulator numbers; drivers are trained there," he explained.
"It's easier to choose very young drivers; the only one who impressed me at the time was Verstappen: at 12, he was the strongest of all, but he was 'taken care of'; I spoke to Helmut Marko about it.
Read also: Antonelli puts ‘endurance race with Max’ on bucket list“But taking someone like Antonelli and immediately putting him in Ferrari would have meant destroying him. We placed [Felipe] Massa at Sauber to gain experience."
For now, Italy celebrates a new hero. But as Antonelli continues his ascent with Mercedes, his early success is a pointed reminder that timing and environment remain everything in Formula 1’s unforgiving spotlight.
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