Antonelli is set to join Russell at Mercedes in 2025. Mercedes has stated that their recent success in Formula 1 will not hinder Antonelli’s chances of securing the team’s available 2025 seat.
Since the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari next season, Antonelli has been considered the top contender to partner George Russell.
However, doubts arose due to Antonelli’s slow start in his first Formula 2 season and Mercedes’ improved performance on the track.
Despite retracting their initial dismissal of Carlos Sainz, Mercedes’ opinion shifted after Antonelli’s impressive performance in wet conditions at Silverstone, where he secured his first F2 win.
He repeated this success in the Feature race in Hungary, leading Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff to declare him as their number-one choice.
With Sainz now confirmed to move to Williams in 2025, it seems highly likely that Antonelli will make his Formula 1 debut alongside Russell at Mercedes next season.
Mercedes has clarified that their recent turnaround, which includes three victories in the last five races, will not heavily influence their decision on the driver line-up.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, explained, “Where we’re racing doesn’t really affect [driver decisions]. We want the two best drivers, and we need to make the best car, and the team are going to focus on that. If you get those ingredients right, you’ll do fine. But certainly where we are in the competitive order doesn’t affect whether we’re looking for an experienced driver or a young driver.”
Antonelli’s impressive racing background and rapid progression through the junior series have positioned him as a potential future F1 champion.
When asked about the reasons behind Mercedes’ interest in Antonelli, Shovlin highlighted his speed as the main factor. He stated, “He has progressed through the series very quickly. It wasn’t long ago that he was competing in go-karts; now he’s in F2 and testing an F1 car with us. He has an impressive CV for someone so young, and undoubtedly, he has a bright future. He appears to be one of those naturally gifted talents that everyone is trying to discover.”
Alongside his F2 campaign with Prema, Antonelli has been actively participating in an extensive F1 testing program using previous Mercedes cars at various circuits worldwide.
Photo from Kimi Antonelli Instagram
