P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has revealed Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the side’s “first option” to replace Lewis Hamilton should Max Verstappen be unattainable. The marque seemed to have tied down its current driver pairing through 2026 when it announced last September that Hamilton and George Russell signed new deals. However, Hamilton delivered a […]
Mercedes appeared to have secured their driver lineup through 2026 with the signing of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell last September. However, Hamilton surprised everyone by announcing his departure to join Ferrari in 2025. Team principal Toto Wolff sees this as an opportunity for Mercedes to start fresh and embrace change.
Despite the young talent of Kimi Antonelli, who has shown promise in Formula 2, Wolff acknowledges the risks of promoting him to a works seat. He believes Antonelli has the potential but lacks experience, especially when compared to drivers like George Russell.
Wolff’s decision to consider Antonelli for the vacant seat is influenced by the unlikelihood of signing their top target Max Verstappen from Red Bull. With major technical changes in F1 coming in 2026, Wolff sees 2025 as a transitional year to groom Antonelli for the future.
Mercedes will take a cautious approach in finalizing their lineup, as Wolff monitors the situation with Verstappen at Red Bull. The team is willing to take a calculated risk with Antonelli, prioritizing long-term development over short-term gains.
