Minardi and Antonelli first started working together when the F1 superstar was eight years old during a karting race and their relationship seemed unshakeable. But, after Antonelli progressed into the Mercedes junior programme and towards F1, their relationship broke down and he decided to terminate the agreement.

Earlier this summer, Minardi lodged a civil lawsuit in the Bologna court for unpaid compensation and compensation for having resigned from his mandate, with allegations linking back to before Antonelli's F1 debut in 2025. Then, on September 9, the Bologna court ordered ordered Mercedes and Antonelli to file with the registry a copy of the contracts signed, as well as a substantial accounting documentation regarding the payments made to the driver since he began competing in F1. The 20-year-old's maiden appeared on the F1 stage came at the Australian Grand Prix in March 2025.

Through his lawyer, Minardi is claiming a percentage between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of all sums received by Antonelli and those still to be received, according to Correire dello Sport. It's reported that 'millions of euros' are involved, given last season Antonelli earned around £11million and this season, with his unchallenged dominance, the figure is set to rise.

The court also addressed the order to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, with the German team 'dissatisfied' with how the situation is evolving at such a crucial stage of the season. The next round of hearings is scheduled for November 19.

Despite all this going on in the background, Antonelli is cruising at the top of the Drivers' Championship and is poised to become the F1 world champion for the first time in his career. The Italian is 102 points above Mercedes teammate George Russell in the race to become world champion and would require a major slip-up in the remaining six races to avoid winning the title.