Andrea Stella, McLaren boss, highlighted Kimi Antonelli’s impact on the current Formula 1 season and stated that the Italian is a ‘trump card for the category’. The executive also acknowledged his team’s difficulty in catching the Mercedes driver in the championship battle.
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The young Italian driver joined the F1 grid as a rookie in 2025 and struggled in his first year alongside the more experienced George Russell. In 2026, however, Antonelli showed significant progress, winning eight GP races and opening an 81-point lead at the top of the championship.
When asked what advice he would give Antonelli, Stella joked about the situation with McLaren and Mercedes being in competition: “I would give him the wrong advice because we are chasing!”, he said laughing. Then, the executive explained why he considers the young driver important for the category.
“I care about Kimi, first of all, because he is a trump card for F1. He is doing very well,” Stella said. The McLaren boss also emphasized that the championship lead is well deserved and pointed to a constant evolution in the Italian’s attitude.
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“Kimi knows very well what to do. I am sure he will maintain this attitude, this speed, this consistency he has shown so far in the championship, and it will be very difficult to catch him,” Stella added.
The assessment was also shared by Flavio Briatore, Alpine director, who highlighted Antonelli’s impact in Italy. According to him, the Mercedes driver is gaining more and more space among fans who traditionally follow Ferrari.
“I think Kimi is also taking Ferrari fans, little by little, because what he is doing this year is really amazing,” Briatore concluded. The veteran executive also highlighted the Italian’s young age and considered that the possibility of him becoming champion is positive both for F1 and for Italy.
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