Kimi Antonelli is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his former manager, Giovanni Minardi, who is seeking compensation after the termination of their contract, according to “La Gazzetta dello Sport”.
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According to the Italian daily, Minardi took the Bologna court last year after Antonelli unilaterally ended their management agreement, just before his Formula 1 debut.
The son of former team boss Gian Carlo Minardi is claiming contractual compensation as well as damages. The exact amount has not been disclosed, but the Italian press mentions a significant sum, estimated in the hundreds of thousands of euros. The two parties are still far from an agreement.
Minardi spotted Antonelli very early
Giovanni Minardi is considered one of the first to have identified the potential of the young Italian. According to the Italian media, he even proposed Antonelli to Ferrari before Mercedes integrated him into their young driver academy.
At the time of the events, Antonelli was already part of Mercedes’ junior program, with the German manufacturer officially managing the careers of its prospects. The 19-year-old driver’s entourage has not spoken publicly about this matter but is convinced that the contract termination was carried out in accordance with the rules.
According to Italian press information, Toto Wolff and the head of Mercedes’ junior program, Gwen Lagrue, whose move to Red Bull is confirmed, could be called to testify at upcoming hearings.
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Antonelli focused on the championship
Asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport about his position as leader before the holidays, the Mercedes driver appeared calm: « It’s not so bad. I am very relaxed and I will enjoy these holidays more than last year because I know we have done an excellent job with the team during this first part of the season. »
Antonelli also assures he has no worries about his future: « I have no doubts about my future, which allows me to focus solely on racing. »
After more than seven months of intense competition, the young Italian acknowledges that a break has become necessary: « We have been immersed in the season for more than seven months. I need to take a break, have fun, and think about something else in order to come back in the best conditions. »
He concluded with a touch of humor: « Even though I know that after four days, I will already miss Formula 1. »
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