Talk in the Formula 1 paddock that Mercedes youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli will join Williams has been rumbling on for some time.
The form of American driver Logan Sargeant continues to be a concern for Williams who are still yet to score a point in 2024.
In a video on The Race’s YouTube channel, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm has explained what needs to happen at Mercedes for Kimi Antonelli to be allowed to leave to join one of their rivals on the grid.
Antonelli’s potential introduction to Formula 1 has been accelerated in the last 12 months.
Still only 17, he skipped Formula 3 this year and is already taking part in behind-closed-doors test drives in a 2022 Mercedes car.
Lewis Hamilton’s imminent exit has provided Mercedes with a problem and until team principal Toto Wolff is certain about who’s going to replace the seven-time world champion, he’s not going to allow Antonelli to leave in case he needs the Italian to partner George Russell in 2025.
READ MORE: Who is Mercedes academy driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything you need to know
Mercedes will let Kimi Antonelli join Williams once Lewis Hamilton’s replacement is confirmed
It’s safe to say that things aren’t going to plan for Mercedes or Williams this season.
Mercedes were hoping to build on finishing 2 in the Constructors’ Championship in 2023 but still don’t fully understand why their car is so unpredictable.
They’ve asked Mick Schumacher to work on this behind-the-scenes but only time will tell if he can find a solution.
Williams are arguably in an even more difficult position as they’ve yet to score a point in 2024.
They relied heavily on Alex Albon to outperform their expectations last year, but the teams around them have taken a step forward while they endured a difficult winter break.
The most pressing issue for Mercedes is finding a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, especially as their first choice Max Verstappen looks unlikely to leave Red Bull.
With Williams also assessing their options when it comes to replacing Logan Sargeant, Antonelli is being left in limbo waiting to see if Mercedes will let him join the team.
The timeline around any move is also unclear at this stage, with Antonelli not old enough to earn a superlicense until August.
It’s understood special dispensation has been asked to accelerate Antonelli’s career but only time will tell to see whether that’s approved.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes AMG F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Kimi Antonelli left in limbo over the start of his F1 career
Talking about the situation at Mercedes, Mitchell-Malm said: “While Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that an imminent F1 move isn’t happening for [Kimi] Antonelli, that’s different to an early one.
“So, while we’re not expecting Antonelli to suddenly appear in the Williams at Imola, we can’t rule it out happening later in the year.
“We understand that Mercedes could be open to the idea depending on what happens with its own driver choice for 2025.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?
There’s a possibility that Antonelli doesn’t join Williams and instead goes straight into the Mercedes team to race alongside George Russell.
However, given his lack of experience and decent but not spectacular start to the Formula 2 season, it makes to give him more time before putting him in a front-running car.
Carlos Sainz will be a free agent at the end of the season and could be an option for Mercedes.
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon is still managed by Wolff and could be a decent stop-gap for the team, although he could also be placed in the Williams team if Mercedes make a play for Alex Albon.
Valtteri Bottas is another driver likely to lose his seat this year and given his previous experience with Mercedes, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he makes a return.
The post ‘We understand’: Journalist explains what must happen at Mercedes for Kimi Antonelli to join Williams appeared first on F1 Oversteer.