Antonelliꦑ has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019, and is widely rega✨rded as the most impressive talent outside of F1.

The 17-year-old has been fast tracked to race in F2 - F1’s main feeder series in 2024 - bypassing ⛄F3🎉 completely.

Italy haven’t had an F1 driver since Antonio Giovꦓinazzi, while the last Italian to win a race ꦏwas Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.

In complete contrast, Francesco Bagnaia 🧸is the reigning MotoGP champion and is currently leading thi♎s year’s championship. 

Ba🥂gnaia rose through the ranks with Rossi’s support through the VR46 Academy.

“Italy is very strong at motorcycles because we have always very strong riders, but le🍌ss in cars, because there is a lot of time that we don’t have an Italian driver winning a F1 race, for example.

“I think we are strong in motorcycle for the acad♓emy because we know a lot of people and it is our world. With the cars, I think it can be𒅌 more difficult, so I think that we will continue just with motorcycles. But supporting and helping Kimi, why not, because we hope he can arrive in F1.”