Former manager Giovanni Minardi is suing Kimi Antonelli for millions of dollars for “compensation that was never paid” following the Mercedes driver’s Formula 1 debut.
For about a year, this issue has been going on behind closed doors. Minardi, the son of Giancarlo Minardi, the founder of the renowned Formula One team of the same name, feels he should be compensated for managing Antonelli’s formative years.
The current leader of the Formula One Championship signed a contract with Minardi Management in 2014 and, at the age of eleven, set up a test to join the Ferrari junior program. Antonelli would join Mercedes in 2018 after being turned down by team principal Maurizio Arrivabene for being “too young.”
At this point, Antonelli left Minardi and was represented by Wolff, the head of Mercedes.
Minardi formally filed a legal case in the Bologna court ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, claiming unpaid remuneration and compensation for resigning from his mission. The claims trace back to before Antonelli’s 2025 Formula One debut.
According to reports, the two parties are far from reaching a settlement, which is estimated to be in the millions.
“Giovanni Minardi suffered greatly over what happened and turned to ordinary justice because it was the only option left,” Minardi’s attorney, Mattia Grassani, told Adnkronos. The young driver deserved far more reward for all the years of effort, sacrifice, and investment. The only choice was to use common justice.
“There have already been multiple hearings in this extremely complicated issue, which has been lingering for about a year. Giovanni Minardi and Kimi Antonelli are suing their parents for allegedly violating the management contract that was given to Kimi and his parents a number of years ago.
The Antonelli team decided that the requirements were no longer met to proceed after the driver switched to Mercedes. This was the point of contention. There were chances to resolve the dispute out of court, but the previous manager stated that he was fully available and rejected the offers. Regretfully, no agreement could be reached.
Wolff and Gwen Lagrue, a former Mercedes driver scout who just joined rival team Red Bull, may both need to testify in order to settle the dispute.
An unforeseen off-track issue has arisen during Kimi Antonelli’s incredible 2026 Formula One season. Giovanni Minardi, the young Italian’s old manager, is suing his former protégé over supposed underpaid remuneration.
The dispute, which has apparently been going on behind the scenes for about a year, has now made its way to the Bologna civil court. Minardi is requesting compensation for his influence on Antonelli’s early career.
When Antonelli was still a young karting prodigy in 2014, Minardi Management got him under their care. Today, he leads the F1 world championship standings.
The young prodigy was given opportunities by the son of former F1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi, including a test to gain entry into the Ferrari junior program. However, the youngster eventually joined Mercedes’ junior ranks in 2018 after Ferrari rejected him at the time due to his age, and his relationship with Minardi ended when Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff took over his management.