Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an Italian driver representing Prema Racing, was seen alongside Toto Wolff, a German executive director and shareholder of Mercedes AMG F1, during the FIA Formula 2 Championship in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 24, 2024.
According to former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who now works as a commentator, Wolff is determined to make Mercedes a closed team, with the exception of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This speculation arose after Lewis Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari, sparking discussions about who will be George Russell’s partner in 2025.
Wolff had previously shown interest in Max Verstappen, but that interest has since diminished, as has any interest in Carlos Sainz. Instead, Wolff has been vocal about promoting Antonelli, a young driver from the Mercedes Junior program, from Formula 2 to Formula 1 next season. Villeneuve made bold statements about this, stating that Mercedes is not an open team and that Antonelli is the future of the team. Villeneuve believes that Wolff is determined to prove he is right and show that he recognized Antonelli’s potential from a young age.
Whether Wolff’s focus on Antonelli is driven by ego or not is a matter of speculation and reflects Villeneuve’s outspoken nature. What is clear is that Antonelli is a rising star in the sport, having skipped Formula 3 to compete in Formula 2 this year. He has been part of the Mercedes program since 2019, indicating that the team sees him as a valuable asset for the future.
Wolff had the opportunity to bring Verstappen into Formula 1 as a rookie, but Red Bull ended up securing his services by placing him in their Toro Rosso team in 2015. Mercedes, on the other hand, was busy with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the time. This experience may have influenced Wolff’s decision to prioritize Antonelli over Sainz.
In an interview with Sky Germany, Wolff expressed his commitment to young drivers, stating that his focus is on Kimi and that they have communicated this to Carlos Sainz. Antonelli has already had the opportunity to test the 2021 and 2022 Mercedes cars, further solidifying his position as a future team driver.
There are rumors that Antonelli may make his debut before 2025, potentially replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams. The only obstacle was Antonelli’s age, as he will only turn 18 on August 25. However, the FIA recently relaxed its rules, allowing drivers who have demonstrated exceptional skill and maturity in single-seater formula car competition to obtain a super license at the age of 17.
