Piero Ferrari has compared Kimi Antonelli’s maturity to that of a young Niki Lauda, praising the Mercedes driver’s ability to avoid costly mistakes as he approaches his first Formula 1 world championship. Ferrari’s vice-chairman also believes Max Verstappen made more errors during his earliest seasons, although he recognises the Dutchman’s exceptional talent and hopes Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will join the championship battle in 2027.
The comments come at a remarkable moment for Italian motorsport. Kimi Antonelli has won eight Grands Prix during the 2026 season, putting himself on the verge of becoming Italy’s first Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. His extraordinary rise has impressed Piero Ferrari, who sees similarities between the young Italian and one of the most celebrated drivers in Ferrari’s history.
Piero Ferrari compares Kimi Antonelli to a young Niki Lauda
When Ferrari chairman John Elkann set 2026 as the target for the Scuderia to win a world championship in September 2022, Kimi Antonelli was just 16 years old and approaching the end of a successful Italian Formula 4 campaign with Prema.
Few could have imagined that four years later the young Italian would be on the brink of the Formula 1 title, having secured eight victories in a single season. That is the same number of Grand Prix wins Ferrari has recorded across the four-year period since John Elkann’s declaration.
In an interview with Leo Turrini for Quotidiano Nazionale, Piero Ferrari explained why the Mercedes youngster reminds him of three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who won two of his titles with the Maranello team.
“Kimi reminds me of Niki, meaning Lauda. And from my point of view, that is an extraordinary compliment, obviously thoroughly deserved,” Piero Ferrari declared.
The resemblance is not primarily about driving style or outright speed. Instead, Piero Ferrari sees a similarity in the composure and maturity both drivers demonstrated early in their Formula 1 careers.
“Kimi, like Niki during his early days at Ferrari, immediately showed a level of maturity that was almost surprising. I don’t remember the Austrian making serious mistakes when my father entrusted him with our car. In the same way, Antonelli has managed to avoid mistakes caused by inexperience. This is a very significant detail because it demonstrates the champion’s balance and composure,” Piero Ferrari explained.
For the Ferrari vice-chairman, the ability to control a car, make sound decisions and avoid unnecessary errors is an important characteristic of a successful Formula 1 driver. He believes Kimi Antonelli has already demonstrated those qualities despite his limited experience at the highest level.
Piero Ferrari says Max Verstappen made more mistakes than Kimi Antonelli
Piero Ferrari also drew a comparison between Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, suggesting that the Mercedes driver has been more consistent in avoiding mistakes during the opening stages of his Formula 1 career.
“Max is a phenomenon! But it is also fair to point out that, in his very earliest years in Grand Prix racing, the Dutchman made more mistakes than Kimi,” Piero Ferrari observed.
The Ferrari vice-chairman was careful to acknowledge Max Verstappen’s outstanding abilities, but believes Kimi Antonelli has shown a particularly impressive level of judgement for a driver of his age.
With Max Verstappen and Red Bull recovering competitiveness during the second half of 2026, the prospect of a direct championship battle between the Dutchman and Kimi Antonelli could become one of the defining stories of the following season.
For Piero Ferrari, however, the ideal scenario would involve more than just the two drivers.
“Of course, the battle between them will be fascinating to watch, and from my point of view, I hope Leclerc and Hamilton will also be involved in the fight for the title in 2027,” he added.
His remarks underline Ferrari’s determination to return to championship contention. Although the Maranello team has experienced encouraging performances during 2026, including Charles Leclerc’s second place in Singapore, the ultimate objective remains a sustained challenge for the Formula 1 world titles.
Why Piero Ferrari believes Enzo Ferrari would have admired Kimi Antonelli
Beyond the comparisons with Niki Lauda and Max Verstappen, Piero Ferrari also reflected on how his father, Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, might have judged the Mercedes youngster’s talent.
According to Piero Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari valued drivers who combined natural speed with the intelligence and clarity needed to manage a racing car effectively. Those are precisely the characteristics he believes Kimi Antonelli already possesses.
“My father knew how to appreciate a natural instinct for speed, accompanied by clear-headedness in managing the mechanical machine. And in this respect, Antonelli is already a master,” Piero Ferrari explained.
The observation is particularly significant given Enzo Ferrari’s reputation for demanding exceptional qualities from the drivers representing his team. Piero Ferrari believes Kimi Antonelli’s combination of speed, maturity and mechanical understanding would have earned his father’s admiration.
For now, the young Italian remains focused on completing an extraordinary championship campaign with Mercedes. Piero Ferrari’s praise nevertheless highlights how his achievements have captured attention beyond his own team, including at Maranello, where Niki Lauda’s legacy remains an important part of Ferrari’s Formula 1 history.
While Piero Ferrari hopes that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be competing for the 2027 championship, his assessment of Kimi Antonelli is already clear: the Italian has demonstrated the qualities of a champion, combining natural talent with a maturity rarely associated with a driver so early in his Formula 1 career.
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