Kimi Antonelli snubbed by Ferrari? CEO delivers blunt response after stunning world title win

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has insisted that he has no regrets about the team's failure to sign F1's first Italian champion in 73 years.

Kimi Antonelli ended that long, long drought in Mexico City on Sunday, becoming the sport's first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari all the way back in 1953. But many in Italy were left to bemoan the fact he did so driving a Mercedes, and not the beloved red car.

Vigna, speaking in a press conference about the company's third quarter results, praised Antonelli for becoming the sport's youngest ever champion but insisted that he doesn't feel regret for not securing the Bologna-born driver's signature - and not only because he wasn't involved in the process, which was the team infamously declining to sign Antonelli when he was a child.

Meanwhile, Ferrari's two current drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, clashed once again on track to ruin what could have been an excellent race for the Scuderia.

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Ferrari CEO: It's a pointless question

Vigna said: "Kimi did a great job and we're all happy. He's a guy who's committed and has the talent to win. We extend our most sincere compliments and congratulations to him.

"As for regrets, I don't think the 'ifs' are meaningful. I'm not answering not because I wasn't there, but because it's a pointless question. Generally, when people ask me if I have regrets about the past, my answer is always no because you can't change history.

"Talent and commitment allowed him to achieve certain skills. Skills plus commitment allowed him to achieve these results. We like people who have this combination. But he's not the only one."

Will Ferrari ever sign Kimi Antonelli?

There are a number of people within F1 who believe that an eventual 'homecoming' for Antonelli is inevitable at some point in his career, with Ralf Schumacher saying this week that Mercedes will 'have to' let the youngster go and drive a red car.

“It will happen eventually,” he said on Sky Germany. “I believe it’s a must, [especially] if the Pope ever orders him to sit in a Ferrari!

“Toto Wolff’s emotions were incredible […] At some point, I think he will also realise that he has to let him go.”

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