P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hailed Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli a “golden boy,” but says he will need time to develop.
An Italian teenager, Antonelli, will be taking over Lewis Hamilton’s race seat at Mercedes for the upcoming F1 season, a tall order for a newcomer to the sport who is viewed as a promising talent by team principal Domenicali. Domenicali stressed the importance of allowing Antonelli the necessary time to demonstrate his skills, acknowledging that immediate success may not be guaranteed, but growth is essential. Antonelli’s rapid rise through the junior categories, from karting to F2, has impressed Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff, who sees parallels between Antonelli’s trajectory and Lewis Hamilton’s early career. Wolff believes Antonelli is well-prepared to handle the competitive environment of modern-day F1, despite the increased complexities and pressures compared to Hamilton’s debut era. The focus is on nurturing Antonelli’s talent and creating a new success story for Mercedes in the upcoming season.
