Max Verstappen may have inspired Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but Mercedes has made it abundantly clear that the young Italian will not be following the Dutchman’s path anytime soon.
Over the weekend, Max Verstappen took on the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours behind the wheel of a GT3 car, delivering an impressive performance that only ended in heartbreak when a technical issue forced his retirement while leading the race with just three hours remaining.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who publicly showed support for Verstappen’s endurance racing adventure, admitted that he would love to tackle the iconic event himself in the future. The Mercedes youngster had even joked in a recent video about securing the special licence required to race on the Nordschleife before the end of this year.
However, Mercedes has officially shut down that possibility.
Bradley Lord responded bluntly when asked about the idea, offering a straightforward answer: “No”.
Expanding on the topic, the Mercedes communications chief explained that the conversation had already taken place internally: “I spoke to him about it. I think he meant it more as a joke,” Lord said, before adding with a smile: “Maybe he can try it after winning four world championships.”
The comment was a clear nod to Max Verstappen, who, in Lord’s view, “perhaps has a little more margin thanks to his experience” compared to the 19-year-old Italian sensation.
Formula 1 remains the only priority
Mercedes’ position leaves little room for interpretation: Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s full attention must remain on Formula 1.
Given the Italian’s outstanding start to the 2026 campaign and his current championship position after the opening four rounds, the Silver Arrows are understandably unwilling to entertain distractions or unnecessary risks outside Grand Prix racing. Lord concluded by making it clear that, for now, Antonelli’s sole mission is to focus entirely on his Formula 1 development and title challenge.
While the dream of conquering the Green Hell may have to wait, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s immediate future appears firmly tied to chasing success at the very top of Formula 1.
Mercedes’ firm refusal to let Kimi Antonelli risk his safety at the perilous Nürburgring underscores the massive stakes riding on the teenager’s rookie Formula 1 campaign. While Max Verstappen’s extracurricular GT3 exploits prove that modern champions crave varied racing challenges, the Brackley squad is unwilling to let outside distractions jeopardize an active, high-profile world championship bid. By drawing a clear line until Antonelli matches the veteran experience of his rivals, Mercedes is ensuring their young star keeps his eyes firmly on the ultimate prize: delivering a historic F1 title.
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