Mercedes are poised to sign academy driver Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season. This comes after Toto Wolff failed in his pursuit of Max Verstappen.
Wolff has mounted an ambitious pursuit of Verstappen ever since Hamilton told him that he was headed for Ferrari in the winter. It was always going to be an almighty task given the Dutchman’s historic dominance at Red Bull.
The Mercedes team principal has indicated a willingness to do whatever it takes. He’s offered Verstappen a ‘world-record’ contract, as well as a post-racing ambassadorship deal, a luxury not even Hamilton enjoyed.
But even this wasn’t enough. Verstappen is leading the championship by 56 points after nine races this year and he will be the favourite for the 2025 title too, with limited changes to the regulations.
While Mercedes produced their best showing of 2024 so far in Canada, taking pole position through George Russell before finishing third and fourth, they’re unlikely to win another championship before the 2026 regulation changes. That’s why Verstappen may wait 12 months before he leaves.
Wolff has known for ‘weeks’ now that Antonelli would be partnering Russell in 2025. Mercedes have privately informed him of their decision, and so all that remains is official confirmation.
Mercedes told Max Verstappen they’d bring Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey
According to sport.de, Mercedes pushed hard to sign Verstappen and made him an offer that seemed ‘irresistible’. In addition to an enormous contract, they were ready to reunite him with Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko at Brackley.
Legendary designer Newey is leaving Red Bull in the early part of next year after handing in his resignation. Previous reports have claimed that Verstappen would follow him to his new team.
Verstappen may see Marko as even more valuable based on a clause in his contract that allows him to leave if the driver programme chief departs. Marko has apparently promised the 26-year-old that he’ll trigger that clause if he says the word.
Wolff has publicly admitted that he’s grown closer with the 81-year-old in recent months. But Mercedes’ comprehensive efforts to lure Verstappen look to be ‘in vain’, at least for the time being.
They have ‘given up their big dream’ of signing the world champion for 2025. But rumours about 2026 will continue to swirl in the background.
Jacques Villeneuve got it wrong about Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes
Speaking in Montreal, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve predicted that Mercedes would re-sign Valtteri Bottas for 2025. He suggested that Wolff would place Antonelli in a midfield seat, and then entrust Bottas to be an experienced stop-gap for one year.
But all signs point to Antonelli jumping straight to Mercedes. The most logical destination further down the grid was Williams, who previously fielded Russell for three years, but they’re now poised to sign Carlos Sainz instead.
Villeneuve believes that Wolff’s ‘ego’ has played a part in hiring Antonelli. He supposedly wants to prove that he was right about the Italian when he spotted him at the age of 12.
Nico Rosberg has warned it may be too early for the Formula 2 debutant. Indeed, while Verstappen would have been a near-guaranteed success, Antonelli represents a significant risk for a team that has typically played it safe.
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