Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli has admitted he'd love to one day race alongside Max Verstappen. But the four-time Formula 1 champion has already given him one important piece of advice: focus on Formula 1 first.
The Italian teenager, who has had a breakthrough 2026 season, said he would love to race with Verstappen in the future. However, the Dutchman reminded him that it is not the right time.
Antonelli Opens Up About Racing With Verstappen
Verstappen has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in GT and endurance racing with Verstappen Racing, often racing in sim racing and looking to go beyond F1.
Antonelli admitted the idea of joining forces with the Dutchman one day is certainly appealing.
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The Mercedes driver said, "We’ve already talked about it, but Max told me to focus on this year, and we’ll see after that."
The advice comes as little surprise. Although he has a passion for GT racing and endurance events, Verstappen has repeatedly emphasized the need to fully embrace Formula 1 before considering other racing avenues.
Furthermore, Antonelli added, "There’s also my father. Racing together with him is a dream we share; it would be magnificent.”
Meanwhile, Antonelli has become one of the brightest young talents in Formula 1 and is still very much intent on continuing his development with Mercedes.
Why Verstappen-Antonelli Pairing Would Be So Exciting
The combination of Verstappen and Antonelli would surely create a lot of excitement in the motorsport world.
With rumors circulating around Verstappen's future and George Russell's uncertainty, these remarks do create a stir in F1.
Both Antonelli and Verstappen are considered to be among the fastest of their generation and have already made a name for themselves in other motorsports. Verstappen has already made a name for himself in the GT3 series along with F1, and Antonelli is continuing to make his mark in motorsports.
The door is open, but it's years down the road when Antonelli has fulfilled his Formula 1 goals.
But for the time being, the Italian gets the message from Verstappen. He is still focused on helping Mercedes battle at the front and on his continued progression in Formula 1.