Nico Rosberg thinks Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a ‘superstar of the future’ but can see an ‘unfortunate’ reason why Mercedes should snub the Italian replacing Lewis Hamilton.
The 17-year-old quickly emerged as a shock contender to race for the Silver Arrows in 2025 when Hamilton announced his departure. Ferrari confirmed in February that the seven-time F1 champion had signed a multi-year contract and will quit Mercedes at the end of this year.
Mercedes are still yet to sign a replacement for Hamilton but are putting Antonelli through a private testing programme. The Silver Arrows’ academy racer has lapped the Red Bull Ring in their 2021 car and their 2022 car at Imola. He will even lap Silverstone in the W13 this week.
Nico Rosberg thinks it is too early for Mercedes to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli will get regular outings in Mercedes’ recent Formula 1 cars as Toto Wolff wants the Italian to get up to speed in case he replaces Hamilton. The teenager is also enjoying his first season in Formula 2 this year but is already eligible to earn a Superlicence once he turns 18.
Winning the Italian and German F4 double in 2022 plus a Formula Regional Middle East and Europe double in 2023 ensures Antonelli reaches the FIA’s Superlicence points requirement. But Rosberg does not feel Mercedes should be thinking about Antonelli replacing Hamilton.
READ MORE: Who is Mercedes academy driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything you need to know
While Rosberg is certain that Antonelli will be a star, the youngster is still to prove himself in F2. The Bologna native sits ninth in the standings ahead of round four at the Emilia Romagna GP. Antonelli set his best result so far with P4 in the Feature race at the Australian GP round.
Rosberg told Sky Sports: “Antonelli is definitely a superstar of the future. But, unfortunately, timing-wise it’s really too early for him, and especially too early for Toto to be able to make a decision on Antonelli.
“[Wolff] needs to wait until somewhat later in the year as we see how Antonelli does in F2 also, because he does need a really strong season in F2 to make it a possibility for him to go straight to Mercedes.”
Nico Rosberg touts a loan spell to Williams as a good stop-gap for Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Rosberg has also claimed that a spell at Williams could suit Antonelli if he does not continue his upward momentum to become a title contender in F2 this season. His P4 in Melbourne followed Antonelli securing P14 and P10 results in Bahrain plus a pair of P6s in Saudi Arabia.
“Otherwise, if anything, some time at Williams or a team like that would make sense,” the 2016 Formula 1 champion with Mercedes added.
According to Tom Clarkson, a spell at Williams might even arrive for Antonelli as soon as the 2024 Italian GP. While he will need special dispensation from the FIA to race in the Dutch GP as he turns 18 on race day, Williams are exploring replacing Logan Sargeant with Antonelli.
Williams have even asked the FIA if Antonelli can receive a Superlicence early to get his F1 at Zandvoort. But his long-term future in the pinnacle of motorsport is with Mercedes as Wolff wants Antonelli there long-term. The Silver Arrows would only loan the Italian to Williams.
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