27 February 2024 , 10:29
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Toto Wolff has been told that “absolute superstar” Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be Lewis Hamilton’s ideal replacement.
Mercedes are looking for a new driver to step into Hamilton’s role as he prepares to join Ferrari at the start of the 2025. A number of potential replacements have been touted - including Sebastian Vettel coming out of retirement. Ex-F1 star Jolyon Palmer has given Wolff some advice in his search and believes that Prema Racing junior driver Antonelli should be in contention. The 17-year-old is set to make his F2 debut this year.
“You’ve got to go bold,” said Palmer. “If Antonelli wins F2 and looks an absolute superstar, you’re Mercedes, go bold! Take the punt, put a superstar in the right seat.
“And then if 2025 starts off a bit slow, we know that the expectation is not that he’s going to come in and beat Russell and be a champion. But he’s at least embedded within Mercedes.
“There will be scrutiny, there always is, but it’s not going to be through the roof in the early races. But then you’re there, you’ve got a season under your belt, 2026, new regs, you’re ready to hit it hard off the top.
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“And I think team principles are too cautious with their driver signings. There’s no rookies on the grid now. I think everyone is so stable and wants to keep a safe pair of hands behind the wheel. When you have a potential star, it’s very rare that they don’t end up being a star.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to make his F2 debut this year (Getty Images)Who do you think should replace Lewis Hamilton? Share your thoughts in the comments below
While Palmer has talked up Antonelli for a role at Mercedes in the very near future, Wolff has been keen to temper expectations placed on the youngster’s shoulders. Speaking ahead of the 2024 F1 season, he said: “Kimi’s been with Mercedes since he was 11. He’s been in the junior programme, and his junior career was very successful.
“I think what’s most important at this stage is that he concentrates on F2. If we start to spin his mind or unleash rumours in the media onto him, that’s not going to help his F2 campaign.
“He’s just stepped out of karts a few years ago and he’s not even 18. So I would rather not start any speculation about Kimi going into Formula 1 at that stage.”
Antonelli has enjoyed a meteoric rise over recent seasons. He was only racing in F4 as recently as 2021 and has earned comparisons to record world champion Max Verstappen after his progress. His kicks off his season this weekend in Sakhir, Bahrain.
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