Former Haas Formula 1 chief Guenther Steiner hailed Mercedes’ 20‑year‑old Kimi Antonelli’s Monza victory, insisting the Italian should be lured to the iconic Scuderia Ferrari after ending a 60‑year drought for national drivers at the circuit.
Monza Red Flag: A Drought Broken
Antonelli’s 19th‑grid start turned into a historic win, giving him his seventh Formula 1 triumph and making him the first Italian to claim the Italian Grand Prix in six decades.
Steiner, speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, highlighted the significance of the win for Italy’s national team, noting that the success came while he remains with Mercedes, the main rival of Ferrari.
Championship Stakes Intensify
Antonelli’s victory extended his drivers’ championship lead to 66 points over teammate George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton his nearest rival three positions back.
The 20‑year‑old’s focus will shift to Spain, where he already topped the second and third practice sessions at Barcelona‑Catalunya and was second‑fastest in FP1, trailing only Russell.
Setting the Stage for Spain
Spanish qualifying opens at 4 p.m. local time (3 p.m. UK), a crucial test as Antonelli seeks to maintain momentum and close the gap to the rest of the field.
Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
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