P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been heralded as the “best driver in an F3 car since Max Verstappen” amid rumours he
Mercedes is currently determining who will be George Russell’s partner at the team next season, following the surprising news of Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari. Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, hinted at the possibility of doing something “bold” in light of Hamilton’s departure, with some suggesting Italian driver Antonelli as a potential candidate. Antonelli, associated with Mercedes since 2018, has shown remarkable talent in karting and various single-seater categories, even making the jump to Formula 2 in 2024 at just 17 years old after winning the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine last year. Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok mentioned that engineers at a private test praised Antonelli’s skills, comparing them to those of Verstappen, who entered F1 at 17 after a season in Formula 3. Antonelli will debut in F2 with Prema, partnered by Ferrari prospect Oliver Bearman, as he remains focused on his F2 responsibilities despite speculation about a potential Mercedes drive. Despite the parallels with Russell, who also came through the Mercedes Junior Team, Antonelli’s future remains uncertain as Wolff emphasizes the need for the young talent to concentrate on his current F2 campaign to fulfill his potential in the sport.
