The 17-year-old racing prodigy captivates Formula 1 enthusiasts in Italy.
Formula 1 drivers need to be at least 18 years old, but one team may already have plans to put a 17-year-old in the driver's seat. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is making history through the junior classes and is even being considered as Lewis Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes.
Kimi, as he's simply known, is a rising star in the world of motorsport. Hailing from the town of Casalecchio di Reno near Bologna, Italy, Antonelli will not be competing in a Formula 1 car during his home race this weekend at Imola. Instead, he'll be participating in the Formula 2 supporting event.
His success thus far is undeniable - from winning the German and Italian Formula 4 championships in 2022 to securing titles in two Formula Regional Championships last year. While he's not yet competing in Formula 1, his potential is clear to many. "He's definitely a superstar of the future," said former world champion Nico Rosberg. "He's a huge talent, an exceptional talent."
Drivers grow from go-karting, and only a few make it to the top. Antonelli, who owns his own team with his father Marco, rose through the ranks at an impressive rate, skipping classes along the way.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff excited about Antonelli's potential
Antonelli has been racing in Formula 2 for Prema, where other young talents like Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Mick Schumacher have also shined. "It's a big step and it's difficult, but I'm confident I can do well," he said in the "Gazzetta dello Sport." "I'll try to keep doing what I've always done, working hard and learning."
Antonelli's accomplishments have caught the attention of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "He's definitely a superstar of the future," he said. "He's one of the best we've ever seen in a kart." Antonelli has been a part of the Mercedes family since 2019 and has tested 2021 and 2022 Mercedes cars.
Wolff is excited about Antonelli's future in the sport, but he doesn't want to push him too hard. "I've talked about Kimi too much because he's only 17 and skipped Formula 3," Wolff acknowledged. "He still has to learn and develop away from the spotlight."
Antonelli's future with Williams
Antonelli has been mentioned as a possible successor to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. However, Williams, an engine partner with Mercedes, could be a more likely destination. While Antonelli might not turn 18 until August 25, he has already submitted an application for his Formula 1 driving license, known as a super license. However, the minimum age for drivers has been raised to 18 after Max Verstappen's early promotion at 17.
Williams team boss James Vowles, who used to drive for Mercedes, recognizes Antonelli's skills. "When you see a young driver, you have no idea if he'll be incredible, great, good, or just mediocre," he admitted. "You could see from his early Formula 4 days that he was developing incredibly well."
Antonelli's potential future in Formula 1 could lie with Mercedes or Williams. Rosberg believes it "makes the most sense" for Antonelli to join Williams before being promoted. "Even if we have to wait and see how his Formula 2 year unfolds, he has to deliver first," he cautioned.
"We acknowledge his impressive abilities, but have we not seen this before with top-notch talents, like Nico Hülkenberg as an example? It's still unclear why Formula 1 hasn't been kind to Kimi Antonelli. Slow down on the pressure for this guy - he's already dealing with a massive load." - Rosberg added on.
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Mick Schumacher, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, is also making waves in the motorsport world. Despite being a few years older, he's also garnered attention, competing in Formula 1 for the prestigious Mercedes AMG team.
Kimi Antonelli's impressive performance in Formula 2 has not gone unnoticed by Lewis Hamilton's team, Mercedes AMG. With their shared team, Williams, also showing interest, Antonelli's future in Formula 1 seems to be a subject of discussion among top teams and drivers.
Source: www.ntv.de
