Guenther Steiner has little doubt Kimi Antonelli will someday drive for Ferrari.
Incoming F1 champion Antonelli is contracted to the Brackley-based squad till no less than the top of 2027 after the group exercised an possibility on his deal. Regardless of having fun with a flying begin to the season, although, Mercedes’ dominance has slipped of late.
Naturally, given Antonelli’s Italian heritage, and the very fact Ferrari is approaching twenty years since its final drivers’ champion, there was hypothesis over a longer-term transfer to Ferrari.
Former Haas group principal Steiner sees it as a matter of when, relatively than if, the 20-year-old will someday drive for the Scuderia.
Requested whether or not he might envisage Antonelli at Ferrari, talking to RacingNews365, Italian Steiner replied: “Some folks ask why he isn’t driving for us. That is the one not-so-perfect factor for Italy, that there’s an Italian champion not driving for Ferrari.
“However I believe at some stage. Give it some thought. He is 20 years outdated. He is so younger, so at some stage, for my part, he’ll drive for Ferrari.
“Will or not it’s brief time period? No. It is going to be perhaps 10 years out. However at some stage, clearly, as an Italian with this expertise, he’ll get there.
“I might flip it round. They may get him. He might go tomorrow if he needs.”
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Antonelli in ‘proper place at proper time’
Steiner, who has expressed delight in Antonelli’s obtain, has additionally prompt his ascension this yr might mark the start of a dominant interval for the teen, pointing to the timing of his arrival alongside F1’s new technical guidelines.
Requested if this could possibly be the beginning of an period for the Italian, Steiner mentioned: “Sure. He is there the primary yr of those new laws.
“In motorsport, particularly F1, you could be on the proper place on the proper time, and he is hit that – he is on the proper place on the proper time.
“However Mercedes, with these laws, are very sturdy. They aren’t dominating, which is sweet for everyone.
“It means he can’t be advised ‘Simply win, as a result of you’ve got the most effective machine’.
“No, he wins as a result of he is bought a very good machine and he is the most effective in the mean time, however I am fairly certain he’ll win a couple of extra world championships.”
