Mercedes has been in a tight spot ever since Ferrari announced the signing of Lewis Hamilton for 2025 and beyond. The team, which was once poised to use Hamilton’s experience to fast-track the development of the W15, now finds itself looking for a replacement to fill in the big shoes of the 7-time champion. Many names have been linked with the coveted Mercedes seat in 2025, but the one that has generated the most hype is that of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old Mercedes junior driver has been touted as the next Max Verstappen of the sport. However, the Italian failed to impress in his first-ever qualifying session in Formula 2.

Toto Wolff rates Kimi Antonelli very highly, even going as far as to call him a wonder kid. He is, in fact, part of the reason why Wolff was hesitant to give a long-term extension for Lewis Hamilton in 2023, which eventually played a role in Lewis’ departure from Mercedes. Wolff even let Kimi Antonelli skip Formula 3 to fast-track his journey to Formula 1. But is the young Italian driver ready for Formula 2 just yet? His first qualifying session in F2 at the Bahrain International Circuit might suggest that he is not. Both the Prema Racing drivers, Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman, didn’t look comfortable in the car and could only qualify in 18th and 19th on the grid, respectively.

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Mercedes is quite sure about the talent of Kimi Antonelli as they already taking measures to prepare him for Formula 1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will run an intense F1 program in 2024

There is more to Formula 1 than what meets the eye. While the battles for championship points take place on the track, a significant portion of the action remains hidden from public view. One example of this is the junior program run by Formula 1 teams to help up-and-coming talent hone their skills behind the scenes. In recent years, Formula 1 has adapted its rules to allow teams to use 2 year older cars for testing purposes.

And while Ferrari is well known for taking advantage of these allowances in the rules, this time around Mercedes is also embracing this strategy for their young prodigy. Developing future champions in Formula 1 requires more than just progressing through the traditional ranks from karting to Formula 2. The unique nature of Formula 1 cars demands hands-on experience, which is why testing opportunities for young drivers are so important. Mercedes has recently confirmed that Kimi Antonelli will run an extensive F1 program in 2024 alongside his F2 campaign.

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This comes at a time when Mercedes Team Boss had already said that they might take a bold approach in selecting their driver pairing for 2025. And with Kimi Antonelli taking on F1 duties along with his F2 commitments, one can only imagine if Toto Wolff has made up his mind to put Antonelli in the car next year.

Who do you want to see replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments down below.