P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A lack of a clear and obvious replacement for Sergio Perez got us thinking. If Red Bull had Mercedes shoe-in Kimi Antonelli, would it drop Perez for him? And what does that say about Red Bull’s junior programme?
The recent piece by Scott Mitchell-Malm raises the hypothetical question of whether Red Bull would replace Sergio Perez with Kimi Antonelli, a young talent headed for Formula 1 stardom. Red Bull doesn’t have Antonelli in its development program, as he was signed by Mercedes at a young age. This situation prompts a wider discussion on Red Bull’s driver program and its ability to groom potential F1 stars. While Antonelli has not dominated in his Formula 2 campaign, leading to doubts about his readiness for F1, Mercedes is convinced of his talent. Red Bull’s historical success with Max Verstappen may lead it to make a similar quick promotion if faced with a talented driver like Antonelli.