Mercedes boss Toto Wolff might have already identified Lewis Hamilton’s long-term successor after putting his full faith in one of the team’s brightest prospects. Kimi Antonelli is just 17 years of age but certainly looks to be a star of the future and might just be Mercedes’ next great hope when Hamilton eventually decides to step back.
Antonelli joined Mercedes’ junior team in 2019 and is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best prospects in racing since Max Verstappen emerged on the scene. He won a number of titles in karting before he was poached by the Silver Arrows, who will be hoping to capitalise on his sky-high potential over the next few years.
The Italian teenager excelled in open-wheel racing this year by winning the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) at his first attempt. Most young drivers would usually follow up by trying their luck in Formula Three, which is the next logical step on the road to F1, but Mercedes have other ideas when it comes to Antonelli.
The Silver Arrows will be thrusting him straight into Formula Two in a huge display of faith in their prized asset, who is set to race for the Prema team next year. It will be interesting to see how Antonelli copes with the significant step up in quality, which could prove to be a masterstroke from Mercedes if he manages to live up to expectations.
Wolff’s decision to throw Antonelli in at the deep end clearly shows that Mercedes see him as a future F1 driver, which could become a reality when Hamilton retires from the sport. The 38-year-old is currently tied down until the end of 2025 but is not getting any younger and has been widely tipped to step down at some point over the coming years.
Antonelli’s hopes of emerging as Hamilton’s long-term successor will hinge on whether or not he does well in F2, with the teenage wonderkid set to embark on a dual-year project with Prema. An opportunity to debut in F1 could then present itself in 2026, given that both Mercedes drivers are contracted for another two seasons after extending their deals over the summer.
Mercedes would not have entered Antonelli into F2 if they did not think he was ready to test himself against some of racing’s other top prospects in a much quicker car than he is used to. Wolff tipped Antonelli to achieve great things when quizzed on the move earlier this month but was quick to ease expectations by insisting that he will be given plenty of time to get up to speed.
“His record in karts was enormous, then you put him in the junior formulas and he won every season in his rookie year,” said Wolff. “We have to be careful because there is a lot of hype around Kimi. It is a big step to put him in F2 as those cars are heavier and more powerful, but if we give him time and don’t expect him to roll up the entire field, then he can do great in this sport.”
Antonelli himself also revealed that he is not expecting an easy ride in F2 next year, saying: “I’m aware that it will be very challenging because the level is really high there. It will be a new car, for me and the others as well but it’s still going to be tough.
“I don’t want to set expectations. I will try to learn as much as possible in testing to be ready for the first race, have fun as always, and do a good job. I’m delighted to continue with Prema as I started my single-seater career with them and they are my second family and I love working with them.”
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.
