F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali backs Antonelli: “Next year we will see a stronger Kimi”. Stefano Domenicali expressed his support for Andrea Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Italian GP.

F1 | Domenicali supports Antonelli: “We will see another Kimi”

Words of support are coming from Stefano Domenicali ahead of the Italian Grand Prix weekend for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian Mercedes driver has faced several challenging Grands Prix recently, and the latest Dutch GP was no exception. His weekend began on a difficult note when he had an accident during Friday’s FP1 session, preventing him from participating in the second practice session. Ahead of his home Grand Prix, Domenicali spoke to the media about various topics, including Kimi Antonelli’s approach to Formula 1.

Recent struggles for Antonelli

Since the European legs of the 2025 F1 season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has experienced some difficulties, with results that were excellent early in the season now harder to come by. However, Stefano Domenicali, CEO and President of Formula 1, urges patience and calm.

Talent is not in question

The Mercedes rookie has already proven over these 15 races that he can be highly competitive, achieving remarkable results such as pole position in Miami and a podium finish in Canada. Antonelli has rewritten the history of Italian motorsport by bringing the tricolor back onto an F1 podium. Recent races have seen a dip in form, but Stefano Domenicali believes this is simply part of the adaptation process. “Kimi is the same age as my daughter, and that makes me look at him differently. I have known him since he was a child, and I think he needs to understand that Formula 1 is a world where you grow up very fast, and the experiences you gain in a single day can be worth years,” Stefano Domenicali explained.

The F1 CEO added, “He is maturing, and for someone with his character, it is important to feel the team’s trust as well as family support. When you are engaged in a challenge like the one he is facing, you cannot expect everything to go perfectly immediately, but this experience will accelerate his growth. I believe next year we will see another Kimi, more aware of what he needs to do. The months he has experienced since Imola are invaluable, and I remain convinced he can have an extraordinary career.”