Source – The sports Rush
While Toto Wolff feels that Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli made a “statement” by winning his first-ever full-length Formula 2 race last week, the Mercedes CEO is adamant that the team would not rush to choose Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for the upcoming campaign.
Five months after Lewis Hamilton’s shocking announcement that he would enact a break clause in his two-year Mercedes contract to join Ferrari at the end of this year, Mercedes remains undecided about who will partner George Russell for the 2025 season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has emphasized the team’s priority on improving their car while taking their time to decide on Hamilton’s replacement. Although reigning world champion Max Verstappen has been a topic of interest, 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli appears to be the more likely candidate due to his status as a junior driver and his rising reputation in motorsport.
Antonelli’s first season in F2 with Prema has been less remarkable than anticipated, reflecting a challenging year for the team. However, recent events have showcased his potential. Antonelli secured his first F2 victories, winning the Sprint Race at a rain-soaked Silverstone and triumphing in the Feature Race in Hungary. Wolff praised Antonelli’s performance, particularly highlighting his impressive win from seventh on the grid at the Hungaroring.
Despite being 50 points ahead of his F2 teammate Oliver Bearman, who has already secured an F1 seat with Haas for next year, Antonelli’s journey has not been without challenges. Mercedes has organized an F1 test program for Antonelli in older cars, providing valuable data to help shape their decision regarding Hamilton’s seat. Wolff acknowledged the difficulties of judging a young driver but emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and developing crucial skills such as tire management and race reading.
As the season progresses, Mercedes will closely monitor Antonelli’s performance, both in F2 and in the F1 tests, to determine if he is ready to take on the coveted seat alongside Russell. The encouraging data from his F1 testing suggests that the young Italian might just be the right choice for Mercedes as they navigate this transitional phase.
