The teenage Italian driver, who has not yet turned 18, is making headlines for his F2 performance. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, dubbed “the next Lewis Hamilton,” is on the correct path to recreate his idol’s achievements. Despite his lack of expertise under Formula One pressure, Kimi has been branded the next great thing in motorsport.
Despite his lack of experience, F1 experts believe he can drive a single-seater in the future season. Toto Wolff has praised the teenager for his exceptional racing abilities and flawless performance under duress. Now, Guenther Steiner has shared his opinion about this young prodigy.
Steiner Explains The Aftermath Of Carlos Sainz’s Williams Move
As the F1 summer break begins, new developments in the driver market have emerged. Esteban Ocon recently announced his move to Haas, and Carlos Sainz has joined Williams. With these changes, there are now four seats available in the 2025 driver line-up, including one at Mercedes. Guenther Steiner discussed the possibility of Mercedes naming Kimi Antonelli as their new driver for next year.
Carlos Sainz has been with Ferrari since 2021, and many F1 fans speculated he might join Mercedes after leaving the Italian team. Toto Wolff had confirmed talks with Sainz, expressing their interest in supporting young drivers. However, with Sainz now moving to Williams, the likelihood of Mercedes recruiting Kimi Antonelli has increased.
Steiner, speaking on ‘The Red Flags Podcast,’ suggested that Antonelli is likely to join Mercedes. This speculation aligns with comments made by Toto Wolff in June, where he emphasized their focus on Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Steiner also touched on other potential driver moves, reflecting on the broader changes in the F1 driver market during his podcast interviews.
Guenther Steiner Discusses The Plans For Other F1 Teams
With Carlos Sainz moving to Williams, the 2025 F1 grid still needs four new recruits. For the spot alongside George Russell at Mercedes, Guenther Steiner has identified Kimi Antonelli as the top choice. However, there are also openings at Kick Sauber, Alpine, and Racing Bull. Steiner speculated that Sauber would likely retain Valtteri Bottas, whose contract ends this year, for their next campaign.
Regarding the Alpine seat, Steiner couldn’t pinpoint a clear candidate, noting that there would be fierce competition for the position. Mick Schumacher from Alpine’s World Endurance Championship team is already vying for the seat, while Jack Doohan, the Alpine reserve driver, is also in contention. Additionally, Alpine might consider promoting a junior racer from Formula 2 for the 2025 season.