F1 News:Possible Lewis Hamilton Successor Raises…see more
Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has expressed uncertainty about stepping into Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 seat at Mercedes after the seven-time world champion transitions to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has spoken highly of the 17-year-old driver and is seriously considering pairing him with George Russell. Wolff is also keeping Carlos Sainz in consideration as he takes his time to select the right candidate for the 2025 seat.
Antonelli gained additional attention when his Prema Racing teammate, Oliver Bearman, secured a Formula 1 contract with Haas for the upcoming season. Despite both drivers facing a tough season with their teams, Antonelli’s recent performances have been stronger, creating a 51-point lead over Bearman.
In a candid interview, Kimi Antonelli admitted he is unsure if he will be ready for Formula 1 in 2025, as he continues to focus on improving in F2. He told RacingNews365:
“I’m not sure if I’ll be ready, to be honest. I’m still learning a lot in F2 and definitely still making quite a few mistakes. There are details that really matter which I’m not getting right yet. I’m working to improve and avoid repeating the same mistakes, and today was proof of that.”
Antonelli recently achieved his first feature race win of the F2 season with Prema Racing in Hungary, following his first sprint race victory at Silverstone. Despite these successes, the Italian driver emphasized that nothing is confirmed for 2025 and prefers to stay focused on his current F2 performance. He added:
“Regarding next year, I don’t want to think about it too much because nothing is official and I don’t know anything for sure. My goal is to perform my best in F2. Winning two races is great for my confidence and for the team, especially since we struggled at the start of the season but are now gaining momentum. We’ve improved in dry conditions, which was our main focus after the win in Silverstone in the wet.”
