The young talent from Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, is set to take part in an extended series of Formula 1 tests with the Silver Arrows next season. Antonelli will leave Mercedes to join Scuderia Ferrari next year. This decision comes after a few challenging seasons for the seven-time world champion. Team boss Toto Wolff is now on the lookout for the perfect replacement for the 39-year-old driver and has identified Antonelli as one of the top candidates for the Brackley-based team.
Speculations have been circulating about Mercedes considering 17-year-old driver Kimi Antonelli since Hamilton’s announcement about moving to Ferrari. In fact, the Silver Arrows have even expanded Antonelli’s Formula 1 testing program for the upcoming season. However, it is worth noting that the team had already shown interest in Max Verstappen.
Wolff has made it clear that he will not rush the decision on Hamilton’s replacement. He believes that Antonelli is in a strong position within the team’s plans for 2025 and wants to avoid making hasty decisions. While some top drivers may soon make their own choices, potentially referring to Audi’s Carlos Sainz’s alleged ultimatum, Wolff trusts his instinct that taking time to decide Hamilton’s successor will be beneficial.
Antonelli made his Formula 2 debut this season, and it is rumored that Mercedes has signed a two-year contract with Hamilton with the intention of promoting Antonelli in 2026. Wolff stated that the Silver Arrows will closely monitor the progress of the 17-year-old driver during his debut season in F2. However, he also mentioned that the team will consider other options in the meantime.
Wolff expressed total confidence in Antonelli’s raw speed, talent, and ability to compete in Formula 1. Mercedes has been supporting the Italian driver since his early days in karting, and Wolff believes that young drivers have successfully made the transition to F1 in the past, using Max Verstappen as the main example.
It seems that Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of entering Formula 1 with Mercedes. The 17-year-old driver will need to showcase his speed during his tests in F1 with the Silver Arrows, while potentially competing in the F2 championship. Antonelli is ready to prove himself and earn a promotion to the pinnacle of motorsport in the upcoming season.
