Rumors are swirling that 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli outperformed Mercedes driver George Russell in a recent secret test. Naturally, Mercedes had to step in to address these speculations.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is rapidly emerging as a favorite to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in Formula 1. The young Italian, backed by Mercedes since 2019, has already shown exceptional talent, earning praise from Mercedes Technical Director James Allison. ‘He’s certainly impressed everyone with the sessions he’s done so far,’ said Allison. ‘He’s never been in an F1 car before, but he looked like he had been in one or two laps.’
Allison continued to praise Antonelli for his natural aptitude and composure, noting that Kimi didn’t make any mistakes during the sessions. ‘It’s a cliché, but he’s fast, he’s consistent, he didn’t make any mistakes. Young people can try to impress so much that they spin out, or the opposite, they’re so scared of spinning out that they don’t really show what they can do. Kimi just seemed to get into the right groove naturally, giving good input about how the car felt without really putting a foot wrong, so he looks like the real thing.’
Antonelli has already had a stellar rise in motorsport, skipping Formula 3 altogether and making his mark in Formula 2 this year. Currently sixth in the standings, he has consistently scored points and even secured P4 finishes in Melbourne, Imola, and Monaco. His journey included back-to-back title wins in the Italian and German F4 championships, and victories in the Middle East and European Formula Regional championships.
However, what really caught everyone’s attention were the rumors coming out of a test at Silverstone. Italian media reported that Antonelli had outperformed not only Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher but also regular driver George Russell under the same conditions. Yet, Mercedes quickly dispelled these claims. ‘Before the weekend begins, we would like to announce that our next TPC (Testing of Previous Car) will take place next week in Barcelona with Mick [Schumacher] and Kimi [Antonelli] driving the 2022 W13,’ said a Mercedes statement, dismissing the idea of a ‘shoot-out’ between the drivers.
Mercedes clarified that the tests were not aimed at direct comparisons, as different drivers completed different programs on various days under different conditions. The ‘unchecked speculation’ had led to erroneous conclusions, but the team confirmed that both Schumacher and Antonelli did an ‘excellent job.’
Looking at Mercedes’ driver lineup for 2025, speculation is rife. While Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss, has expressed interest in Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the reality of a Verstappen move seems uncertain. This leaves the door open for drivers like Carlos Sainz or the promising Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fill Hamilton’s soon-to-be-vacant seat. George Russell, already a part of the team, also acknowledged Antonelli’s potential, stating, ‘I think Kimi is a fantastic driver, obviously he’s in Formula 2 this year, but there’s no doubt he’ll be a Formula 1 driver in the future.’
As Antonelli continues to progress in Formula 2, all eyes will be on him to see if he can maintain his form and potentially secure a spot in the Mercedes F1 team. For now, the young talent remains focused on his current season, determined to make his mark and prove his worth.
In the end, while rumors and speculations can stir the pot, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s undeniable talent and potential future with Mercedes speak for themselves. The motorsport world will undoubtedly be watching his journey closely.
