Andrea Kimi Antonelli has not dismissed a potential future move to Ferrari, despite his current commitment to Mercedes. The Italian driver stated his immediate objective is to achieve ‘as much as possible with Mercedes’ during the current F1 2026 season. Antonelli is the sole Italian driver on the Formula 1 grid for 2026, leading to ongoing speculation about a future transfer to Maranello.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff previously acknowledged Ferrari’s interest in Antonelli earlier this year. Wolff indicated that Mercedes is aware of Ferrari’s intent to secure an Italian driver for their team. Antonelli’s current contract with Mercedes extends through the 2026 season, placing him in a primary driver role.
Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Ferrari has reportedly faced renewed scrutiny following his first victory for the team in Barcelona in June. This win led Hamilton to believe he was a genuine title contender in the F1 2026 season. However, subsequent performances have highlighted Ferrari’s current inability to consistently deliver a championship-winning package.
Reports suggest that the gap to the championship leader has widened in recent events, contributing to internal discussions within Ferrari regarding development priorities and strategic approaches. Hamilton joined Ferrari for the 2025 season, and his current situation reflects the challenges of the ongoing 2026 campaign.
In other news, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has acquired a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. The supercar is valued at approximately $5 million. Footage of Alonso, who turned 45 in July, collecting his new vehicle in Monaco has surfaced.
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is powered by a W16 quad-turbocharged engine, delivering over 1,200 horsepower. This hypercar is renowned for its top speed capabilities, exceeding 400 km/h, and its exclusivity. Alonso, who has secured all three of Aston Martin’s points this season, has an estimated net worth of $260 million.
Ferrari has also announced a multi-year partnership with Japanese technology company Rakuten, commencing from the F1 2027 season. Rakuten will serve as an Official Partner, aiming to leverage its global technology and innovation expertise within the collaboration.
Rakuten was previously linked with a potential title sponsorship deal with McLaren in 2014, though an agreement was not finalized at that time. Ferrari currently holds second position in the constructors’ standings, with a maximum of nine races remaining in the F1 2026 season.
Meanwhile, the Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) continues to advance its self-driving car technology. Recent demonstrations at Imola showed these AI-driven vehicles lapping within one to five seconds of human F1 pace. This marks significant progress since the series’ debut in Abu Dhabi two years ago, which was described as chaotic.
The A2RL cars utilize advanced algorithms and sensor arrays for real-time decision-making and track optimization. The series aims to push the boundaries of autonomous technology, with continuous improvements in speed and reliability observed.
