P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli is being heavily linked with a promotion to F1 with Mercedes next year as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes F1 protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli shared details about a phone call he had with Toto Wolff earlier this year. Antonelli, part of Mercedes’ junior program since 2019, is rumored to potentially replace Lewis Hamilton at the Brackley-based team next season. Despite his success in Formula 2 this year with two victories, Antonelli remains humble and focused on learning. He values his strong relationship with Mercedes’ chief Wolff, who provides advice and boosts his confidence during tough times. An example of this support was after a disappointing qualifying at Silverstone, where Wolff helped Antonelli regain his self-assurance, leading to a victory in the sprint race the following day. Antonelli believes facing challenges like these ultimately make him stronger and more resilient in his career.
