Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Scuderia Ferrari next season. The seven-time world champion decided to part ways with the Silver Arrows after a couple of difficult seasons. Now, Team Principal Toto Wolff is looking to find the ideal replacement for the 39-year-old. The Austrian billionaire recently mentioned Kimi Antonelli was on the top of the list for the Brackley-based team.
Mercedes has been rumored to be considering 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli since Hamilton’s Ferrari announcement. The Silver Arrows even expanded the Italian’s F1 testing program for this season. Although, Toto Wolff had shown interest in Max Verstappen previously.
Wolff mentioned that he was not going to rush the decision regarding Lewis Hamilton‘s replacement. The Mercedes team boss affirmed that Kimi Antonelli was in the strongest position in the team’s plan for 2025. Subsequently. Toto Wolff asserted that the Silver Arrows did not want to make any other decision in haste.
I don't want to rush [the decision], because Kimi is part of the ideas for next year and is very much in the strongest position, and that's why we don't need to rush into any other decision. Toto Wolff told Xinhua
The Austrian billionaire admitted that some top drivers will make their decision soon, potentially hinting at Carlos Sainz’s rumored Audi ultimatum. However, Toto Wolff had a gut feeling that it would be better to take time to decide on Hamilton’s replacement.
Some of the other top drivers are going to make a decision on what to do soon, but there's a feeling that points me in a direction not to take the decision too quickly. Toto Wolff stated
Toto Wolff has faith in Kimi Antonelli’s ‘raw speed and ability’
The Italian driver made his Formula 2 debut this season. It was believed that Mercedes gave Lewis Hamilton a two-year contract as the team wanted to potentially promote Antonelli in 2026. Toto Wolff mentioned that the Silver Arrows will monitor the 17-year-old’s growth in his rookie F2 campaign. Although, the Austrian mentioned that he would look at other options in the time being.
I want to see how his F2 season develops, but we will wait and see what happens with some of the other drivers in F1. Toto Wolff explained
The Mercedes team boss asserted that he had full faith in Kimi Antonelli’s raw speed, talent and ability to race in Formula 1. As the Brackley-based team has supported the Italian driver since his karting days. Moreover, Toto Wolff mentioned that in the past, young drivers have successfully made the step-up to F1. Max Verstappen would be the best example for this case.
I don't doubt his raw speed, talent and ability. We wouldn't have supported him from go-karting until now if we didn't believe that he has the potential to go into F1 and do so with Mercedes. Many young drivers have shown in the past that you can do that step. Toto Wolff asserted
Certainly, Kimi Antonelli seems to be just a few steps away from entering Formula 1 with Mercedes. The 17-year-old would need to demonstrate his pace in his F1 tests with the Silver Arrows while potentially fighting for the title in F2. The Italian driver is prepared to prove himself to get promoted to the pinnacle of motorsport next season.
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