Kimi Antonelli Reveals Why He Never Expected Max Verstappen to Leave F1

Kimi Antonelli believes Max Verstappen never seriously considered ending his Formula 1 career. The Mercedes driver, who has a close friendship with the four-time world champion, said Verstappen simply loves racing too much to walk away. “I never thought Max would leave Formula 1. He loves racing too much,” Antonelli told Italian media. The Italian admitted that becoming Verstappen’s teammate at Mercedes would be challenging, but it would also provide a valuable opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s best drivers. However, Antonelli said he is happy to have George Russell as his current teammate and remains fully focused on his work with Mercedes. Antonelli also welcomed the possibility of the 2026 season finale being moved to Imola instead of Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “It would be great to finish the championship in Italy. But if the situation improves, I would also be happy to race at those circuits,” the Mercedes driver added.