Antonelli Hails Mercedes Backing After Monza Win
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 18, 2026
Antonelli and Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes has given him the backing he needs, and he wants to repay that trust with titles. He said he is happy at Mercedes and stressed that the team has supported him since he was 12. That backing matters to him now as much as it did when he was coming up through the junior ranks. Antonelli made clear that his first priority is to win as many championships as possible with Mercedes before he thinks about anything else. That approach keeps his long-term future open, but it also places the focus squarely on the team that developed him.
The Ferrari link will keep following him, and Antonelli did nothing to end that conversation. He said there will always be talk about Ferrari, and he has not ruled out a move there someday. Even so, his message was plain. Mercedes comes first. He wants success with the Silver Arrows before he considers any other path. That stance gives Mercedes a public commitment from a driver who places value on loyalty, development and the chance to win with the team that believed in him early. For now, his words point to a driver who sees Mercedes as his home base.
Monza victory
Antonelli’s latest win at Monza came after he recovered from an engine-change grid penalty and still won at the Italian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell. Antonelli said the support he received from Italian fans after the victory was incredible and gave him extra motivation. He also called his home podium at Monza the most beautiful of his season.
The emotions were part of the story too. Antonelli said hearing the Italian anthem and fans chanting his name gave him goosebumps. The win also carried competitive weight. It was Antonelli’s eighth Grand Prix victory of the season, and the latest step toward a maiden Formula 1 world title. He handled the pressure of starting from behind after a penalty and recovered to win in front of his home crowd.
Ferrari and Wolff
Ferrari remains part of the conversation around Antonelli, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added his own view to that discussion. Wolff said Ferrari should have done the job six or seven years ago, a line that pointed to Ferrari’s interest in securing an Italian driver. He also said Ferrari would try to secure an Italian driver. That fits the setting, given Antonelli’s rise and the attention he draws in Italy. Ferrari will keep coming up when the sport talks about Antonelli, even as he insists his present and his immediate ambitions sit with Mercedes.
For Antonelli, the noise around Ferrari is part of life at the top of Formula 1. He has already made clear that he is happy at Mercedes and that he wants to build something there first. His comments keep the focus on Mercedes and the championships he wants to chase with the team that backed him from the start.
