Mercedes evaluates Antonelli as an option to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025, supporting him in his first Formula 2 season with Prema and alternating it with private tests with F1 cars from the team Brackley.
But in recent days, the 17-year-old Mercedes protégé has also been rumored as a possible replacement for Logan Sargeant at Williams this year if the Grove-based team decides it wants to change drivers.
That idea intensified on Friday after it emerged that the FIA had received a request to make an exception, in theory from Williams, to grant the young Italian the super license necessary to compete in F1 before he reaches the minimum age. of 18 years.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli doesn’t turn 18 until the end of August, fueling speculation that he was being groomed for his F1 debut before the summer break.
But speaking to Motorsport.com, Toto Wolff has completely ruled out that idea, stating that there is no interest on Mercedes’ part in changing its original plans for the young driver.
“The exception was something that we did not raise and we have certainly stated from the beginning that that was not something we wanted to pursue,” Wolff said.
“I don’t know where that theory comes from that Mercedes was interested in pushing that. Kimi needs to focus on his F2 season and he knows it.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli drives Mercedes W12
“Everything else is just rumours, which are still going around and are factually incorrect. He’s a Prema F2 driver, that’s what he’s doing, and that’s what we’re all focusing on.”
Wolff stressed that Mercedes would be careful not to burn out Antonelli by raising him too early, given his rapid rise through the youth ranks and lack of experience.
“Just 15 months ago, I was in an F4 car,” he said. “We believe a lot in Kimi, in his abilities and also in his future.”
“But there is a trajectory that we have to follow diligently, instead of trying to dream of jumping from category to category in a way that is certainly not beneficial for him.”
“I think a champion is not going to be distracted by any of that. But at least it distracts me because everyone asks me: ‘What’s going on with Kimi and his test at Imola?’
“What they are saying is not going to happen. That is not something that Mercedes wants. These rumors have gotten their own spin. We are going to do Formula 2. As a team we have many other issues to resolve.”
Wolff made it clear that Mercedes had never expressed any interest in accelerating Antonelli’s arrival in F1, and suggested that the exception request was something others had made.
“I think that request is probably something that had some traction because more and more people flirted with the idea,” he said. “But it’s nothing we’ve pushed from our side.”
Wolff said Mercedes was happy with the progress Antonelli is making, comparing him favorably to Ferrari’s Jeddah debutant Oliver Bearman, highly rated so far in F1..
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes testing at Imola
Photo by: Davide Cavazza
Last month, he also completed a first F1 test with the Mercedes W12 of 2021 at the Red Bull Ring, followed by a test in Imola with the most recent but most complicated to drive W13 of 2022.
“He’s completely on the trajectory we expected,” Wolff said of his protégé’s progress.
“There are easier days, there are more difficult days. I think that between the drivers and the team they have to solve some problems, but it is not unexpected. The training sessions are going very well and we face them with calm and serenity.”
“That’s what we’ve planned ahead of the season, a solid year of F2 and testing with Mercedes, and we’ll just keep doing it. Everything else is just a distraction for all of us.”
“We are super happy with George [Russell]. He is going to continue being a driver for this team. And everything else we see well in the pilot market.”
“It’s not going to happen in the next few weeks or a couple of months.”
