P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes appears to be closing in on its replacement for Lewis Hamilton next season – and it’s not Max Verstappen!
Italy does not currently have a driver on the F1 grid, but that may soon change as Mercedes is in talks to replace Lewis Hamilton with rising talent Kimi Andrea Antonelli. Antonelli impressed Mercedes during a recent test at Silverstone and may be offered a seat for next season. While some speculated a competition between Antonelli and Mick Schumacher, Mercedes clarified it was not a shootout. Reports suggest Antonelli outperformed Schumacher and even matched George Russell’s pace during testing. Mercedes is reportedly considering Antonelli for a potential F1 debut in 2025, but he will need to wait until his 18th birthday in August to race due to superlicence rules. Despite Prema’s challenging season in F2, Mercedes is confident in Antonelli’s abilities and is closely monitoring his progress.
