Just three rounds into his Formula 2 career, Andrea Kimi Antonelli finds himself in contention for a seat at Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have known since the winter that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving for Ferrari in 2025.
It’s abundantly clear that Toto Wolff’s number-one choice for a successor is world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but that hasn’t stopped Wolff trying everything.
The Austrian has offered him a salary ‘considerably’ larger than that of Hamilton, as well as a post-racing ambassadorship deal that promises to be lucrative. He’s even told Verstappen he can bring Helmut Marko with him from Milton Keynes if that’s what it takes.
But if, as expected, he stays at Red Bull, Wolff has two options. He could pivot to a known quantity on the current grid, like Carlos Sainz, or take a gamble on a rookie.
Sainz has apparently held talks with Mercedes, but they have different visions. The Spaniard wants a multi-year deal, whereas the Brackley outfit are only willing to guarantee the first 12 months.
That’s because they want the option to sign Verstappen if he becomes available in 2026, or promote Antonelli if he proves his readiness. The 17-year-old won the Formula Regional Championships in Europe and the Middle East last season.
Wolff and Mercedes regard him as the next Verstappen or Charles Leclerc, but they must decide whether to fast-track his ascent. It’s possible that he could stop off at Williams, just like George Russell.
What happened on first day of Kimi Antonelli Mercedes test
Mercedes want to see what Antonelli can do behind the wheel of F1 car, and with that in mind they’ve organised a testing programme. First, he’ll drive the 2021 Mercedes, which won the constructors’ championship, and then later in the year, he’ll take on the trickier 2022 car.
They scheduled the first test for this week at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, a track F1 will visit at the end of June. But according to Formu1a.uno’s Giuliano Duchessa, they encountered issues on Tuesday.
Writing on his X account, Duchessa reported that Antonelli and Mercedes faced ‘slightly adverse’ weather in Spielberg. As such, they will ‘try again tomorrow [Wednesday]’ in the hope of more ‘useful’ running.
It seems that Wolff and co. want to see what the Italian can do in representative dry conditions. His performances could be crucial to determining whether he gets the seat alongside Russell.
Antonelli and Oliver Bearman could both get F1 seats
Whether or not he’s driving for Mercedes or in the blue of Williams, it looks increasingly likely that Antonelli will be on the F1 grid in 2025. And his Prema teammate Oliver Bearman may well join him.
Bearman won driver of the day on an unexpected F1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last month when Ferrari’s Sainz had to withdraw with appendicitis. He battled from 11th to seventh in the race to impress many in the paddock.
The 18-year-old has already pencilled in six FP1 sessions with Haas this year, and it seems ‘inevitable’ that he’ll join the American outfit next year. If Nico Hulkenberg moves to Sauber, then the path will be clear.
In the long run, it’s possible that the Prema duo will be tussling at the front of the grid. Bearman will hope to earn a full-time spot at Ferrari one day after his first glimpse in Jeddah.
As for the current season, it’s Antonelli who has the edge in the championship with 24 points to the Briton’s two. It’s worth noting, though, that Bearman was due to start on pole for the Saudi Arabia feature race before he received his F1 call-up, potentially costing him a significant haul of points.
The post 'Try again tomorrow': Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli run into issues on first day of maiden F1 test - journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
