Antonelli felt 'disappointed' after achieving his first F1 podium.

      "Am I the next one? That’s the goal."

      A rumored loan arrangement with Alpine would be a setback for Kimi Antonelli’s aspirations. Following his holiday in Sardinia after Silverstone, it’s been reported that Max Verstappen met with Toto Wolff. This has led to speculation that the Mercedes team principal may be looking to form a Verstappen-George Russell pairing for 2026. This would clarify Wolff's recent admissions about meeting with Flavio Briatore multiple times, not only regarding Valtteri Bottas but also discussing a possible loan in which the 18-year-old Antonelli could benefit from Mercedes customer support at Alpine next year. Such a scenario would disrupt the young Italian's ambitions.

      "I know the last Italian champion in F1 was (Alberto) Ascari," he stated in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper’s Sette lifestyle magazine. "Am I the next one? That’s the goal."

      Antonelli has had a varied start to his F1 career this season, stepping in for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and recently achieving his first podium finish in Canada. "It was fantastic," he shared, "but to be honest, I was also a bit disappointed. We had the car to win, and my teammate, George, took the victory. If I hadn’t made a small mistake in qualifying..."

      On the brighter side, his relationship with his girlfriend Eliska Babickova, an impressive kart driver from the Czech Republic, is going well. "She understands my world and how much time it demands," Antonelli expressed. "She recognizes the sacrifices. When she comes to the track to support me, it’s very nice—I don’t have to worry; she’s definitely not bored. But it’s still too early for us to live together."

      When asked about his idols, Antonelli first mentions his fellow countryman and current world tennis number one, Jannik Sinner. "I’d love to meet him," he said. "I admire his mental resilience during matches, especially when things don’t go his way. How many times has he turned tough situations around?"

      In racing, however, his hero is Ayrton Senna. "I’d like to know how he managed to conquer his fears after an accident and push himself to go even faster," Antonelli remarked. "Because after experiencing an accident, fear does set in. As drivers, we don’t dwell on it, but it’s something we live with."

      Lastly, Antonelli expresses his admiration for another Italian, Valentino Rossi, with whom he has spent some time on the kart track. "I wish I could emulate his ability to surround himself with the right people and identify those who can truly support you in performing at your best on the track, giving you a sense of calm," said Antonelli.