Ferrari rejected Antonelli when he was young, according to his father.

      Kimi Antonelli's father has shared insights on how Ferrari missed the opportunity to sign Italy’s rising Formula 1 talent long before his significant breakthrough. With increasing excitement in Italy following the 19-year-old's victory from pole position in Shanghai, and comments from Luca di Montezemolo and others suggesting Ferrari should have secured him, the details of how Antonelli ended up at Mercedes are becoming clearer.

      "Kimi was approached by Ferrari as a talented karting driver, recognized by Massimo Rivola," his father, Marco Antonelli, revealed to Formula Passion. "He was just 11 years old and even had the chance to try out the simulator in Maranello, built for the academy's students. Everything was in place. However, Maurizio Arrivabene, who was the head of the racing department at that time, said my child was still too young. A few months later, Mercedes reached out to us, and the rest is history."

      Antonelli himself has confirmed the initial contact with Ferrari but has expressed where his allegiance currently lies. "I don’t wish to overshadow any legends. Ferrari is Ferrari, and that will never change," he stated. "I appreciate all the affection the Tifosi have for me. But I believe the fans in Italy will be pleased to know that I have already found my family at Mercedes. They are the ones who chose me and invited me to join them when I was just a teenager, and they created the conditions for my growth and development."

      Supporting his father's account, Kimi said, "I had connections with Ferrari, but I was very young back then—10 or 11 years old. Mercedes genuinely wanted me and took their chance. Toto Wolff reached out to us at the end of 2017 and expressed their desire for me to join their youth program. I’m very thankful for this opportunity."

      Wolff, for his part, asserts that he never questioned the decision to accelerate Antonelli’s career, even amidst criticism last year about the young driver’s readiness. "I’ve been in this environment for many years and there’s always criticism," the Mercedes boss told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It often comes from those who don’t have all the information. There aren’t many drivers who can win everything right from karting like Kimi. I’ve witnessed his growth firsthand, and I’ve never viewed the decision to bring him to Mercedes as a risk. The only concern with young drivers is whether they are ready to manage the pressure of Formula 1, but Antonelli has always had an excellent support system and a strong family around him. We aim to nurture him in a successful environment, and his parents are well-versed in motorsport, providing him with wise counsel."

      Wolff also recognized the importance of Antonelli’s early success for Italy. "I knew that Italy had been lacking a top-tier victory for quite some time," he remarked. "Now, a driver has emerged who is also somewhat of a rock star, embodying important values and a great character. That’s essential for success. However, we must ensure that Kimi isn't subjected to too much pressure at this stage."