Kimi Antonelli is seen alongside Toto Wolff, the team boss of Mercedes.
Kimi Antonelli – a leading contender to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for F1 2025 – has expressed doubt over whether he is ready to take that step in an honest assessment.
With Hamilton set to become a Ferrari driver as of next season, Mercedes are searching for a successor to the seven-time World Champion who will join George Russell in their F1 2025 line-up.
Kimi Antonelli not sure he is ready for Mercedes seat
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has openly discussed Antonelli, their talented Junior Team prodigy, as a strong contender. Antonelli, who recently clinched the Formula Regional European Championship title, has been fast-tracked to Formula 2, the last step before entering Formula 1.
Antonelli’s initial experience in F2 was slower than anticipated, but he is now hitting his stride. He showcased his skills in the wet Silverstone sprint race, securing his first victory. Furthermore, he flawlessly executed an alternate strategy in the Hungary feature race, resulting in another well-deserved win.
He had been in the lead during the initial part of the Hungary sprint, but the choice to begin with soft tyres proved to be a mistake as they quickly deteriorated.
However, even with this significant improvement in his performance, Antonelli remains uncertain about his preparedness to face the Mercedes F1 challenge in the upcoming season.
Antonelli confessed, “To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll be prepared.”
“I am continuing to learn a great deal in F2. Undoubtedly, I still make several mistakes. Furthermore, there are certain crucial details that I have yet to master.”
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Antonelli acknowledged that the mounting pressure was becoming overwhelming for him due to the ongoing discussions about his promotion to Mercedes F1. However, his victory in the Silverstone sprint race greatly alleviated this pressure, as he finally stood atop the F2 podium.
The Italian expressed, “Without a doubt, I feel much lighter at Silverstone, with considerably less pressure weighing on my shoulders.”
“As the weekends passed and the conversations continued, the pressure gradually intensified.”
“Silverstone came as a great relief for me, as I found myself driving with a newfound sense of freedom compared to the previous weekend. I was able to drive more instinctively, without being overly concerned about the results, and solely focused on my own performance.”
I believe it was quite evident, and this victory, particularly in a competitive race under dry conditions, brings immense relief and serves as a significant achievement for everyone involved.
Even though Antonelli is unsure, Martin Brundle, Sky F1 pundit, remains convinced that Mercedes should elevate Antonelli to their F1 2025 squad.
Brundle stated, “Since I have George Russell, who has the potential to lead the team, I would choose to bring Antonelli with us. Despite the mistakes he may make initially, we can tolerate them.”
With five rounds of the season left, Antonelli holds the P6 position in the F2 Championship standings.
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