Antonelli puts ‘endurance race with Max’ on bucket list

Kimi Antonelli conquered his maiden F1 win last weekend in China, but the young Italian is already revving up dreams far beyond the Grand Prix grid – and they involve none other than Max Verstappen.

The 19-year-old Mercedes charger has admitted that he would gladly trade his silver arrows for a GT3 machine if it meant sharing a cockpit with the Dutchman.

Antonelli’s fascination with GT racing isn’t just a passing whim; it’s in his blood. His father, Marco, is a veteran of the category and runs the AKM Motorsport outfit, giving Kimi a front-row seat to the world of endurance long before he arrived in F1.

When asked if the GT3 world held any allure, the Mercedes prodigy didn't hold back.

“That would be super cool," Antonelli beamed. “I would love to do an endurance race with Max, together. I think that would be pretty awesome.

“It’s cool because we both have the passion for GTs. On my side it came from my dad with the GT team, and occasionally I go and test when I can.”

The timing of these comments is no coincidence. Verstappen has already confirmed he’s taking his talents to the "Green Hell" this May to compete in the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours event.

Driving a Mercedes AMG-GT3 draped in Red Bull colors, Max is proving that his appetite for victory extends far beyond Formula 1 – a move that clearly has Antonelli inspired.

Chasing the Nordschleife dream

While Verstappen prepares for the grueling overnight shifts in Germany between F1’s Miami and Canadian rounds, Antonelli is already plotting his own path to the legendary Nordschleife.

The prospect of two of the fastest men on the planet joining forces in a single car is enough to make any petrolhead salivate.

“Obviously Max as well has been really enjoying it. It’s really cool for him to do the 24 Hours of Nurburgring – I think it’s going to be a really cool event and definitely I’ll be watching it. It’s something that in the future I would really like to do, to race with him in an endurance race," Antonelli admitted.

The Italian sensation believes their shared driving styles and mutual respect would make them a force to be reckoned with.

“I think we would be a really cool pair, and it would be a really cool experience,” he added.

“It’s something that I’ve been considering as well. I’ve already asked to do a test at the Nordschleife, for example, because it’s a track that I love. I would love to be able to try it in the real world as well.”

• Read also: Verstappen’s frank admission: ‘I don’t need to be only an F1 driver’

For the moment, however, the endurance dream will have to wait. Antonelli is currently locked in a heated intra-team battle at Mercedes.

After leading George Russell home for a spectacular 1-2 finish in China, Kimi sits just four points behind his teammate in the Drivers’ Championship.

With 47 points on the board and the momentum of a winner, the teenager is proving that whether it’s a sprint or a marathon, he’s ready to lead the pack.

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