Mercedes' rising star Antonelli uncertain about F1 leap
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Italian prodigy and Mercedes prospect, is capturing attention within the motorsport world as discussions intensify about him potentially succeeding Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. However, Antonelli expresses hesitancy on whether he's poised for the transition to Formula One.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not dismissed the idea of promoting the 17-year-old Antonelli, an academy talent, following Hamilton's anticipated move to Ferrari next year. Yet, Antonelli remains self-critical about his readiness despite his recent triumph in the F2 feature race ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I mean... I don't know if I will be ready, to be honest," Antonelli admitted at the Hungaroring. "I'm still learning a lot in F2. Definitely I still do quite a few mistakes. A few details that really matter, I'm still not doing that right."
Currently ranked sixth in the F2 championship, Antonelli recently secured his maiden series victory at Silverstone, marking a significant personal milestone.
"Definitely from Silverstone, I feel way lighter. Quite a bit less pressure on my shoulders," Antonelli shared. "The pressure was building up, weekend by weekend, obviously with all the talking. Silverstone was a big relief for me, and this weekend I was driving like my mind was way more free than the previous weekend."
His approach at the Hungaroring also reflected a mental shift: "I was driving way more natural, without really thinking about the outcome. Just focusing on myself."
Meanwhile, Wolff's resolve to elevate Antonelli to F1 is underscored by strategic considerations. While Mercedes has yet to name Hamilton's successor, Wolff watches the evolving dynamics at Red Bull, particularly regarding Max Verstappen's potential shift for 2025 or 2026.
There are echoes from the past as Wolff seems determined not to repeat the scenario with Verstappen, who joined Red Bull in 2014 after being presented with an immediate race seat proposition.
Despite the uncertainties, Antonelli's ties to Mercedes remain firm through a development deal extending beyond this year. Originally, insiders suggested a plan for Antonelli to make his F1 debut through Mercedes' affiliate, Williams, in 2025, while Hamilton and George Russell continue as principal drivers.
Hamilton's shock exit, however, has altered the landscape, leaving a vacancy at Mercedes without an obvious frontrunner beyond Carlos Sainz, whose own 2025 decision may hinge on the stability of Sergio Pérez's tenure with Red Bull.
As the situation unfolds, Antonelli's future, whether in Formula 2 or ascending to the pinnacle of motorsport, will undoubtedly fuel more fascinating developments in the ever-dynamic F1 driver market.
Up Next
F1 TV: Watch F1 Grand Prix live throughout the season.
ESPN: Watch F1 and live sports streaming across ESPN networks.
Season-Defining Headlines
