The teenage Italian driver, who has yet to turn 18, is making headlines for his F2 performance. Andrea Kimi Antonelli called “the next Lewis Hamilton,” is on the right road to emulate his idol’s success. Although Kimi lacks experience tackling the pressure of Formula One, he is dubbed the next big thing in the motorsport world.
Despite his lack of experience, F1 experts feel he could steer a single-seater in the upcoming season. The youngster, touted by Toto Wolff, has showcased some exquisite racing skills and performed immaculately under pressure. Thus, a veteran F1 journalist feels an announcement of Kimi’s Mercedes entry is around the corner. At the same time, Nico Rosberg has made a shocking revelation regarding Mercedes’ second seat for the 2025 season.
F1 Veteran Journalist Certain Of Kimi Antonelli Replacing Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli has risen to prominence recently, establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in Formula One. Known for his exceptional skills, the Italian racer has been hailed by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff as a potential successor to Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes has been backing Antonelli since his early career, which led to his recruitment by the team. His standout performance in the F2 race in Hungary further fueled excitement among fans eagerly awaiting his future contributions to Mercedes.
In his blog, “Green Notebook,” Joe Saward has indicated that it’s nearly confirmed Mercedes will announce Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s successor for the 2025 season. Saward detailed the current driver situation at Mercedes and noted Antonelli’s impressive performance during the F1 tests with the team. Although the results of these tests are being deliberately kept under wraps to manage expectations, it appears that any lingering doubts about Antonelli’s potential have been resolved.
On the other hand, Andrea Kimi Antonelli spoke openly following his F2 performance, expressing doubt about his preparation. He stated that he was still learning and making mistakes. Antonelli said that he has yet to grasp numerous critical things but is determined to improve and avoid repeating mistakes. Reflecting on his success, he stated that his latest accomplishments reflect his continued growth. However, he is wary about thinking too far ahead, particularly because nothing formal has been agreed for the next year.
Nico Rosberg Reveals Mercedes Has ‘More Than A 50% Chance’ To Bag Max Verstappen
Nico Rosberg has shared his strong intuition about Max Verstappen’s likely move to Mercedes, suggesting there’s more than a 50% chance of this switch occurring. He also highlighted that Mercedes is making significant strides in engine development, particularly with the upcoming 2026 regulations. Rosberg emphasized that this early advantage in engine technology could play a crucial role in the decision.
However, despite Rosberg’s assertion, it won’t be easy for Mercedes to sign Verstappen. The Red Bull triple champion has already clarified that his future is with the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Further, even if he decides to switch, the probability of it happening before the 2026 season is nearly zero.
