Lewis Hamilton backs Andrea Kimi Antonelli to exchange him at Mercedes for 2025 F1 season | F1 Information

Lewis Hamilton has named Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the driving force he would select to exchange him at Mercedes on the finish of this 12 months.

Mercedes are but to resolve who will take Hamilton’s seat when the seven-time world champion joins Ferrari in 2025 however 17-year-old Method 2 driver Antonelli is among the main candidates, Sky Sports activities Information understands. Max Verstappen nonetheless stays a goal for Mercedes however his Pink Bull contract runs till the top of 2028.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is known to not be an choice for Mercedes, leaving Antonelli and Verstappen as the 2 primary candidates.

Antonelli is very rated after he gained a number of junior single-seater titles on the first time of asking since stepping up from karts to racing automobiles in 2021.

In Imola, Hamilton was requested whether or not Sainz can be match for Mercedes however responded by saying his choice can be Antonelli.

“Carlos is a great driver, so I think wherever he goes I think he would be a positive for any team,” mentioned Hamilton.

“Honestly, I have no idea what Toto’s plans are, but for me, taking on a youngster, if it was my role, I would probably take on Kimi.”

Wolff: Perhaps we are able to shine extra with an Italian

Mercedes have denied reviews they requested for an exemption from the FIA to award Antonelli a superlicence to drive in F1.

After Max Verstappen joined the game as a 17-year-old, the game’s governing physique launched a minimal age restriction of 18 years previous.

Antonelli is 17 however turns 18 on August 25 this 12 months, the identical day because the Dutch Grand Prix. Because of his junior success, he already has sufficient superlicence factors to race in F1, so solely his age is stopping him.

Wolff spoke to Sky Sports activities F1 about his emotions of Hamilton racing in Italy on the weekend for the primary time since his shock transfer to Ferrari was introduced and introduced up Antonelli.

“I guess for the Italians it’s super exciting to have Lewis Hamilton in red next year. We will get used to the outfits, but we have got to look at ourselves,” he mentioned.

“Maybe there is an option that we shine more with an Italian in our car, so we’re pushing back hard.”

Antonelli has ‘metronomic’ tempo

Mercedes have examined Antonelli of their 2021 and 2022 F1 automobiles in April however have tried to minimize their expectations of the Italian.

Technical director James Allison praised Antonelli, who has been matching and, at occasions, outperforming his Method 2 team-mate Oliver Bearman this season.

“I have had the great pleasure of listening to the engineers describe the interaction with him,” mentioned Allison.

“Just a young, enthusiastic driver, very, very fast, metronomic in his pace. Has not been in an F1 car until recently, but made it look like he’d been in one for ages within a lap or two.

“He got here at this technology of automobiles, the bottom impact automobiles, with an open thoughts. He feels all the identical issues that you just’d anticipate him to really feel. However he is not kind of polluted by the earlier automobiles, so he simply takes them as they’re and tells us what he’s feeling as weaknesses and strengths.

“He lets the engineers work to try to improve those things. But he looks like a very promising young driver.”

Wolff has been making an attempt to not put stress on Antonelli however beforehand recommended Mercedes may very well be “bold” with who they resolve to exchange the departing Hamilton.

In Imola, the Mercedes workforce boss mentioned: “We’re hyping that younger man for a very long time now and he can be an excellent and an excellent driver sooner or later in Method 1, however he is 17. Fourteen months in the past, he drove an F4 automotive and there may be a lot expectation in Italy.

“We are also a little bit guilty about talking about him at that stage and I think we should let him do his F2 thing, deliver results and not be too carried away with what could be or should be.

“Have a look at George [Russell], he has gained F3 and F2 in his rookie 12 months. On the similar time, Kimi has delivered on these junior collection and is in F2 now so we are going to see. He will be in Method 1 sooner or later however let’s not rush.”

What else did we be taught concerning the driver market in Imola?

Previous to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Alex Albon signed a brand new contract to remain at Williams till not less than 2026, which ended hypothesis he might be part of one other workforce.

Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez had a tough weekend as he was knocked out in Q2 and solely completed eighth within the race, whereas team-mate Verstappen transformed pole place right into a win, and seems no nearer to confirming his future as his present deal expires on the finish of this 12 months.

It comes at a time when RB’s Yuki Tsunoda carried out strongly by qualifying seventh and ending within the factors for a second race working.

Sainz may very well be ready to see if Pink Bull resolve to maintain Perez as Sauber and Audi proceed their pursuit of the Spaniard.

Requested whether or not an announcement continues to be a good distance off, Sainz mentioned: “I think so, yeah. It’s not moving too quick.”

Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas was noticed speaking to Williams boss James Vowles, with the Finnish driver linked to a return to his previous workforce.

Bottas, whose contract at Sauber additionally expires on the finish of this 12 months, did not give something away about his chat with Vowles.

“[It was] normal things, about life! Of course, when you’re on the free market, you want to check around what’s out there,” he mentioned.

“It’s a pretty normal situation being you’re on the free market.”

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