MOTORSPORT – KIMI Antonelli “was always in the pipeline” to be Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes Formula 1 Team whenever the seven-time drivers’ world champion decided to move on.
This was revealed yesterday by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Hamilton announced his shock switch from the ‘Silver Arrows’ to ‘The Prancing Horse’ early last year, and since then a number of high-profile drivers were tipped to fill his seat.
But it was eventually given to now-18-year-old Antonelli, who had been a part of Mercedes’ junior programme since 2019 after claiming numerous titles and wins in the junior karting categories.
Wolff said that they fully trust in the Italian’s abilities and he is now rewarding them with his impressive showing so far in Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 in Bahrain.
“For us, Kimi was always in the pipeline,” Wolff said during a team principals’ Press conference yesterday at Bahrain International Circuit.
“We knew that if Lewis were to stop one day, we would be going the Kimi way and trusting him.”
Wolff highlighted that Antonelli is part of an impressive group of young drivers who are competing in their first full seasons in F1 this year. Along with Antonelli, the others are Oliver Bearman of Haas, Gabriel Bortoleto with Kick Sauber, Jack Doohan of Alpine, Isack Hadjar with Racing Bulls, and Liam Lawson of Red Bull Racing.
“Everybody saw the level of performance of Bearman in the Ferrari in Saudi Arabia with basically missing out on the Friday and then being exceptional,” Wolff explained, pertaining to the Bearman’s seventh-place classification in Jeddah last year.
“Many of us were then saying, ‘Oh, hold on a minute, where is Bearman in F2 and in F3 and what has he done before? And the realisation came that maybe the level of these young drivers is very high actually.
“Then, [Alpine reserve driver] Colapinto was put in the car and performed extraordinarily. He took everybody by surprise.
“This is why we got the wave and the trust in the young drivers that they are actually capable to do this. Let’s see how it pans out but it’s exciting to have three, four, or five of these young drivers coming into the sport.”
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu was all praise for Bearman and said they were thrilled with the opportunity of him taking a race seat.
“I don’t know if this is the year to trust rookies, but it just so happened that a young and exciting rookie like Oliver was available,” Komatsu said of the 19-year-old Briton. “Of course, we first saw him in 2023 in Mexico, and from that moment it was clear that he has huge potential.
“Then some of you saw what he had done last year, so he just happened to be the signing.
“I think it’s great he has fellow-rookies to fight against as well, but from yesterday as well, he got back in the car, was really positive, motivates people, and it’s really exciting, so we’re looking forward to it.”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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