Piero Ferrari says Kimi Antonelli's maturity and avoidance of serious mistakes remind him of a young Niki Lauda, although he stopped well short of suggesting an imminent move to Ferrari.

Enzo Ferrari's son said he has not met Antonelli and follows him from a distance. What impressed him was the Mercedes driver's clear thinking and ability to manage the car as well as his outright speed.

Those qualities, Ferrari said, would have appealed to his father. He drew the comparison with Lauda's early approach rather than claiming that the 20-year-old has already matched the three-time world champion's achievements.

Antonelli has developed quickly enough to reach a first championship opportunity in Austin, but his progress has included the restraint to collect points when a victory was not available. That combination is what Ferrari identified.

Asked about the possibility of an Italian driving for Ferrari, he said, Who wouldn't love to see an Italian? He also emphasized that contracts and existing commitments must be respected, reducing the idea to a possible future rather than an active negotiation.

Italian Formula 1 has waited a long time for a home driver capable of fighting at the front. Ferrari's comparison adds to the expectation, while Antonelli's more immediate task is to keep doing the thing that prompted it: being fast without making the expensive mistake.