Former Ferrari bosses in Italy have famous how Andrea Kimi Antonelli would swimsuit the well-known F1 workforce.
Lewis Hamilton grew to become the most recent blockbuster driver signing for Ferrari this 12 months, even when his period with probably the most profitable workforce in Formulation 1 historical past has been difficult.
Mercedes positioned their religion in Antonelli, the gifted teenager from Italy, as a rookie substitute for Hamilton.
Antonelli is sixth within the F1 standings after 4 rounds, behind each McLaren drivers, Max Verstappen, George Russell and Charles Leclerc. However he’s one place forward of Hamilton.
His thrilling driving model has caught the attention in his homeland, the place it has been intriguingly famous that he would make an attention-grabbing Ferrari driver.
“Antonelli is a first-rate driver, I am solely sorry to see him in Mercedes,” mentioned Luca di Montezemolo, who was Ferrari president throughout Michael Schumacher’s prime, to Sky Italy.
“If I might have taken him? At 18 possibly not, however a few years in Sauber after which…”
Stefano Domenicali, one other former Ferrari boss who’s now the Formulation 1 CEO, additionally seen Antonelli’s suitability for the enduring crimson automotive.
He informed Sky Italy: “Kimi in Ferrari? An Italian driver with an Italian automotive…
“There’s a want for a driver who, particularly in at this time’s world, represents a reference determine for the world of youth.
“So that will be very nice, however I feel Toto Wolff does not agree a lot proper now.” Domenicali added about Antonelli: “We’ve got to make him develop, he’s a unprecedented man.
“Seeing him enter the paddock along with his household and little sister hand in hand offers us a romantic dimension of the game, then when he pulls down the visor he goes sturdy.
“Earlier than equating him with some champions, I feel it’s proper to attend, however the certainty is that he’ll turn into a protagonist of our world.”
Ferrari ‘very near successful’
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari head to this weekend’s F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix already below strain to show round a below-par begin.
Leclerc and Hamilton have been fourth and fifth final weekend in Bahrain, their greatest results of the season thus far, however beneath pre-season desires.
Leclerc, who bemoaned his automotive’s lack of tempo in Bahrain, was unable to foretell when Ferrari would uncover extra efficiency.
However Domenicali has a much more optimistic view.
“I see a Ferrari that could be very near those that are successful,” the F1 CEO mentioned.
“The one recommendation I may give to Fred Vasseur is to proceed working together with your head down with out feeling the burden of a strain that’s pure for many who maintain that place.
“I’m satisfied that we’ll quickly see Ferrari win once more this 12 months.”
Domenicali mentioned about Hamilton at Ferrari: “It is a unprecedented sporting problem.
“Successful instantly shouldn’t be trivial. I consider that his tenacity and power is to consider and develop along with the workforce”.
