Lewis Hamilton might be one of the biggest names in Formula 1, but his start with Ferrari hasn’t exactly turned heads—and now, there are whispers that his seat could already be in trouble.
After finishing 5th in the Bahrain Grand Prix—his best result with Ferrari so far—Hamilton is still struggling to make a real impact. And now F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted at who he thinks could eventually take Hamilton’s place: Andrea “Kimi” Antonelli, a rising star currently racing for Mercedes.
“An Italian driver in an Italian car—it would be really special,” Domenicali said in a recent radio interview. “Young people need heroes, and Antonelli could be that figure.”
Antonelli, just a rookie this season, has impressed in nearly every race he’s entered. Since his debut at the Australian GP 2025, he’s scored points in all but one race and currently ranks 6th in the overall standings.
But there’s one major problem: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff isn’t ready to let him go. Wolff took a gamble putting Antonelli in the car so early, and he’s convinced the young Italian has the potential to become a superstar—maybe even the next Max Verstappen.
“He’s an amazing kid with great values,” Domenicali added. “You see him walking into the paddock holding his little sister’s hand, and it brings something pure to the sport. But when he’s in the car—he’s fast.”
For now, Antonelli is staying put. But with Hamilton still trying to find his rhythm at Ferrari, and a new generation of talent rising fast, the pressure is on.
Ferrari fans will be watching closely to see if Hamilton can silence the doubters—or if the future belongs to someone else.
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