Max Verstappen generated so much hype when he first arrived in Formula 1 directly from the Formula 3 feeder series at age 17. He was immediately identified as a generational talent. And something similar is happening right now with the Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian has already been touted as the next Verstappen of Formula 1, and Mercedes is seemingly trying to fast-track his advance to F1.

Currently in his first Formula 2 season (having skipped F3 altogether), Kimi Antonelli is already being hyped for a promotion to F1 next season as Mercedes is also running an extensive testing program with F1 machinery parallel to his F2 campaign. Moreover, this is happening at a time when Mercedes is already looking to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton. And although Toto Wolff has hinted that he could take a gamble by putting Kimi Antonelli directly in Mercedes in 2025, the safer option would be to loan him to a customer team like Williams as they did with George Russell. And that’s something the former Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor agrees with.

The only issue with placing Kimi Antonelli at Williams right now is that he is not yet eligible to drive in Formula 1. He needs to be 18 years old to get his F1 super license. However, when a fan asked Windsor if he thinks Kimi Antonelli could replace Logan Sargeant as soon as the Italian turns 18, which will happen right before the Italian Grand Prix, the ex-Ferrari boss agreed without hesitation. “I think he [Kimi Antonelli] could do [replace Sargeant], I mean that’s [Williams] the obvious place to try him out and run him,“ Windsor said during a Live Chat on his YouTube channel.

“It’s [Monza] not that demanding a circuit and obviously Mercedes are a supplier of engines to Williams so they have leverage there. And Logan, I’m sure, doesn’t feel very good about Williams now after what happened in Australia and I presume Mercedes would pay all the bills anyway. So I don’t think it’s a big stretch of the imagination to see that happening and I think they could even race him in [Mercedes] next year. I don’t see that’s a problem if they think he’s that good,” he added.

While Mercedes wants to give Antonelli his first F1 experience as soon as possible, the team principal at Williams might not be convinced as easily to run Antonelli.

James Vowles is not sure if he wants Kimi Antonelli in Williams anytime soon

In Formula 1 the customer teams have to often oblige to the wishes of their supplier. Look at what happened with George Russell. He was made to spend 3 years at Williams before his eventual switch to Mercedes in 2022. But this time, things could turn out differently, as it might not be in Williams‘ best interest to give a seat to Kimi Antonelli. The reasons?

Williams has its own crop of young drivers to look after, including Zak O’Sullivan and Franco Colapinto in F2, and Luke Browning in F3. This raises doubts about whether Williams would be willing to develop a driver who ultimately belongs to another team. “From my perspective, I have no doubt that Kimi will be in F1,” James Volwes, who worked closely with Antonelli during his time with the Mercedes junior program was quoted by Motorsport.com.

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“He’s done incredibly well in his junior series. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be in Williams, necessarily. I believe in investing in youth. But I’ll take people on merit into the organization. I’m fortunate enough to have two juniors myself in F2, and one in F3,” Vowles added.

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Do you think Kimi Antonelli will replace Logan Sargeant this season? Or will James Vowles decline Toto Wolff’s request to look after his own junior drivers? Share your insights in the comments.