P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be the driver who vacates his seat at Mercedes should Max Verstappen decide to join from F1 rivals Red Bull, according to reports in Italy.
According to reports in Italy, there is speculation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be the driver who moves from Mercedes to make way for Max Verstappen if he decides to join from Red Bull in Formula 1. Antonelli has had a successful start at Mercedes, replacing Lewis Hamilton this year and even securing a pole position and a podium in Canada. Rumors about Verstappen joining Mercedes have led to discussions about finding Antonelli a temporary home at Alpine, which will become a Mercedes customer team next year. Talks between Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Alpine’s Flavio Briatore have fueled speculation about potential driver moves, including the possibility of Valtteri Bottas joining Alpine instead. The idea of having Verstappen and George Russell as Mercedes drivers has raised questions about potential conflicts, but Wolff and Russell have expressed confidence in managing any competitive dynamics that may arise. So far, the discussions continue amidst the evolving landscape of F1 driver lineups.
