Former Ferrari boss reveals the real reason they rejected Kimi Antonelli aged 11

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari didn’t reject a young Kimi Antonelli because he was too small, former team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has said.

According to his father, Ferrari had concerns about Antonelli’s build. He visited their factory at age 11 with a view to signing a contract, but the Scuderia decided not to proceed with a move.

This meant Mercedes were free to sign Antonelli instead. After an unconvincing rookie season, the 19-year-old is beginning to look like a generational talent, having won five straight races to open up a 66-point championship lead.

Is Kimi Antonelli about to run away with the championship, or will it be close?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Maurizio Arrivabene: Ferrari didn’t have the ‘structure’ to sign Kimi Antonelli

In an interview for Leo Turrini’s Profondo Rosso column, Arrivabene attempted to set the record straight on Antonelli.

The 69-year-old, who was Ferrari team principal between 2014 and 2019, said Ferrari didn’t have the ‘structure’ required to take on such a young talent.

Amid his rise to superstardom, there are fresh rumours that Ferrari are determined to sign Antonelli, and Arrivabene is optimistic he will achieve success in red one day.

“In my last year at Ferrari, I’m talking about 2018, Kimi Antonelli was 10 or 11 years old,” he said. “At that time, Ferrari didn’t yet have the structure to deal with kids that young.

Kimi Antonelli is going for a sixth straight win in Barcelona. Who’s your pick for the top step of the podium?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“I’m not speaking as a team principal, but in reference to the company. Then things at Ferrari are a little more complicated than other teams. You have to understand the context!

“It’s as if today you took another talent, a very strong kid who is about 11 years old, Robin Raikkonen, Kimi’s son, and said to him, ‘Great, we’ll sign you to Ferrari.’ It’s not that simple!

“However, precisely because he’s 19 and very strong, I think Antonelli will have plenty of time to bring us home the world title even while sitting in a Ferrari.”

Maurizio Arrivabene praises Toto Wolff’s management of Kimi Antonelli

Arrivabene praised Antonelli’s performance in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, where he survived a race-deciding restart against Lewis Hamilton. He had gapped the seven-time world champion by over 30 seconds before the stoppage but commendably maintained his focus.

Antonelli is being compared to Ayrton Senna, one of the sport’s all-time greats, after his historic run.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is playing down the Senna comparisons as part of his efforts to keep Antonelli grounded.

“We already knew about his talent, but what struck me most was Kimi’s coolness,” Arrivabene said. “At his second start, he had a giant like Hamilton next to him, if you know what I mean. Well, the guy didn’t flinch.

“I accept the comparison with Senna in terms of driving skill, but there’s also a difference. Ayrton was a mystic; he had, in a good way, an almost obsessive vision of his craft. Antonelli isn’t; he maintains a brash approach, which is perfectly legitimate for a guy who’s not even 20 years old.

“I think this is thanks to the family he has around him. And although he was my rival when I was managing Ferrari, yes, it’s also right to congratulate Toto Wolff for the way he guided Kimi’s growth.”