Montezemolo Regrets Losing Antonelli to Mercedes

Montezemolo Regrets Losing Antonelli to Mercedes, Says He Belonged on Ferrari’s Pathway

Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has expressed his disappointment at seeing rising star Kimi Antonelli begin his Formula 1 career with Mercedes instead of the Italian team. Montezemolo, who led Ferrari to a golden era alongside Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher, believes Antonelli is a rare talent who would have been a natural fit within Ferrari’s system—especially given his Italian roots.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Montezemolo praised the 18-year-old rookie, who is currently impressing in his debut season in Formula 1. “Antonelli is a first-rate driver,” he said. “He’s in his first year, yet he doesn’t make mistakes. He’s quick, and I can already see him developing into something special. And he’s from Bologna, like myself.”

Antonelli’s clean performances and growing consistency have made him a standout among the 2025 rookie class. He has already outperformed veterans like Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the standings, a remarkable feat given Mercedes’ own transitional challenges. The fact that he was brought through Mercedes’ junior program instead of Ferrari’s is something Montezemolo regrets deeply.

“I’m just sorry to see him in a Mercedes,” Montezemolo added. “Would I have signed him at 18? Maybe not directly for Ferrari, but I would have sent him to Sauber for a couple of years to prepare—just like we did in the past.”

Montezemolo was referring to Ferrari’s historical use of Sauber (now Stake F1 Team) as a training ground for future stars. Both Felipe Massa and current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc started their careers at Sauber before being promoted to the Scuderia. In his eyes, Antonelli could have followed a similar path and eventually become a key figure for Ferrari.

The young Italian’s rise also marks the return of Italian representation in F1, with Antonelli becoming the first Italian driver on the grid since Antonio Giovinazzi raced for Alfa Romeo in 2021. While that fact alone has generated national pride, it has also raised questions as to why Ferrari—Italy’s most iconic motorsport brand—did not secure the country’s most promising talent.

Montezemolo’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny of Ferrari’s performance and leadership this season. The team has endured a difficult start to 2025, struggling with inconsistency and a lack of direction. Montezemolo has not held back in his assessment, describing the current team as “lacking a leader” and even calling it a “team without a soul.”

Despite having two strong drivers in Leclerc and Carlos Sainz (soon to be replaced by Lewis Hamilton), Ferrari has found it hard to capitalize on opportunities this year. Meanwhile, Antonelli’s string of consistent points finishes with Mercedes has drawn attention and admiration—not only from fans but also from key figures in the sport’s history.

While it’s too late for Ferrari to claim Antonelli now, Montezemolo’s words highlight what many fans may be thinking: that Ferrari missed a golden opportunity to bring in a homegrown talent with world-class potential. Whether Antonelli’s trajectory continues upward remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—his early performances have left a lasting impression, and some in Maranello may already be regretting letting him slip away.