Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been a standout since the beginning of the 2024 F1 season. The current F2 driver for Prema Racing, who is also affiliated with Mercedes, impressed the Mercedes Technical Team during his tests at Imola. The team’s Technical Director praised the performance of the Italian driver. While Mercedes is looking for a replacement for their seven-time world champion driver, they have shown great interest in the talented young sensation, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
James Allison, a key figure in the Mercedes Formula 1 team, praised Antonelli’s speed and consistency during his F1 tests. He described the young driver as a true talent. Antonelli took part in testing sessions at the Red Bull Ring and Imola, and there are reports that he also trained with the Mercedes reserve driver at Silverstone. With his recent performances, Antonelli has caught the attention of many in the F1 world and is on the rise.
Lewis Hamilton, a highly respected figure in the sport, praised Antonelli during the race weekend in Imola. Hamilton admitted that if given the opportunity, he would be the first to hire the 17-year-old driver for the vacant Mercedes seat in 2025. Hamilton fully supports the young Italian and believes that his potential move to Williams in the future will give Mercedes the chance to evaluate his ability to handle the pressure of F1.
This evaluation will be crucial for Toto Wolff and the Mercedes team in making decisions about their driver lineup for the 2025 F1 season. There are rumors that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is being considered as a replacement for a driver at Williams in the upcoming Dutch GP.
