Hamilton is on the verge of joining Ferrari, and Antonelli, a Mercedes protege, is being considered as a potential replacement for the seven-time F1 world champion, alongside George Russell, despite his lack of experience.
During the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Allison was asked about Antonelli’s recent test in an older car. He mentioned that the engineers spoke highly of the young driver, who is currently competing in Formula Two. Allison described Antonelli as a young and enthusiastic driver, with impressive speed and consistency. Despite his limited time in an F1 car, he quickly adapted and provided valuable feedback to the engineers. Allison expressed optimism about Antonelli’s potential, stating that he seems to be a very promising young driver.
During a press conference in Imola, Hamilton shared his opinion on the matter. He indicated that, if it were up to him, he would advise his boss Toto Wolff to take a chance on the young Italian. Hamilton mentioned that if he were in charge, he would probably choose Kimi, emphasizing the potential of young drivers.
Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut at McLaren in 2007, at the age of 22, achieving immediate success with a podium in his first race in Australia. Max Verstappen, a three-time F1 world champion from Red Bull, debuted at the age of 17 in 2015.
At the moment, Antonelli’s focus is on making an impact in Formula 2. Despite skipping Formula 3, the young Italian driver is facing challenges that were not initially expected. However, there is still plenty of time for him to prove his worth.
If Antonelli needs more time to develop in Formula 2, Mercedes could consider hiring Carlos Sainz or Esteban Ocon. Alternatively, they may try to lure Max Verstappen from Red Bull. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
