Anto✤nelli has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019, and is widely regarded as the most impressive talent outside of F1.

The 17-year-old has been fast tracked to ra🌠ce in F2 - F1’s main feeder series in 2024 - bypassing F3 completely.

Italy havꦗen’t had an F1 driver since Antonio Giovinazzi, while the last Italian to win a race was Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.

In complete contrast, Francesco Bagnaia is the reigning M🌠otoGP champion and is currently leading this year’s championship. 

Bagnaia rose through the ranks with Rossi’s support through the VꦉR46 Aca🌊demy.

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

“I think we are strong in motorcycle for the academy because we know a lot of𒁏 people and it is our world. With the cars, I think it can ꧑be 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.”