Confession: Lewis Hamilton's Potential Successor at.......Read more

Kimi Andrea Antonelli Credits Toto Wolff for Career Milestone: Could He Be Mercedes’ Next F1 Star?

Mercedes junior driver Kimi Andrea Antonelli has revealed the pivotal role that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has played in his career, as the young Italian continues to impress in his debut Formula 2 season. The 17-year-old, who has been fast-tracked through the junior categories, is already being tipped as a future star in Formula 1, with reports suggesting he could join Mercedes as early as 2025.

Antonelli’s journey to the brink of Formula 1 has been nothing short of meteoric. After a standout performance in the Formula Regional European Championship, where he clinched the title in 2023, Mercedes made the bold decision to promote him straight to Formula 2, bypassing the usual step of Formula 3. This move was met with some skepticism, given the significant jump in competition level. However, Antonelli has started to prove his doubters wrong, particularly with a breakthrough victory at the Silverstone sprint race, followed by another win in the feature race in Hungary.

In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, Antonelli opened up about the challenges he faced this season and how his relationship with Wolff has been instrumental in helping him navigate the pressures of being a Mercedes protégé. “When they informed me that this was the plan, I thought it would be a big jump, because you usually go to F3 first, but at the same time, the challenge was immediately appealing to me,” Antonelli explained.

The young driver admitted that he never expected to dominate Formula 2 right out of the gate, understanding that the jump from Formula Regional would be a steep learning curve. “I didn’t plan on coming to F2 and winning everything. I was always aware that the jump from Formula Regional would be very challenging and I was aware that I had a lot to learn, which I am still doing,” he said.

Despite the pressures and challenges, Antonelli’s relationship with Wolff has been a key source of support. The Italian driver revealed how a conversation with Wolff after a disappointing qualifying session at Silverstone helped him regain his confidence. “In difficult moments I ask him for advice and he always looks for a way to give me confidence. After the disappointing qualifying in Silverstone, I called him because it was a bit of a tough time. We talked a lot and that conversation gave me back my confidence, and the next day I won,” Antonelli recounted.

This ability to bounce back from adversity has been a hallmark of Antonelli’s season, and it’s clear that Wolff’s mentorship is playing a crucial role in his development. The relationship between the two has not only been professional but also personal, with Wolff providing guidance during challenging times. “When you go through difficult times, I think you come out stronger in the end, also in terms of attitude. Silverstone and Budapest confirmed it,” Antonelli added.

As the Formula 2 season progresses, Antonelli currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings—a respectable position considering his lack of experience at this level. While his performance has been inconsistent at times, his recent victories suggest that he is beginning to find his footing.

The buzz around Antonelli’s future in Formula 1 is growing, especially after Carlos Sainz’s recent announcement that he will be joining Williams next season. This has fueled speculation that Mercedes could be preparing to promote Antonelli to the senior team as early as 2025, potentially as a successor to Lewis Hamilton. According to Autosprint, Mercedes is expected to confirm Antonelli as part of their 2025 driver line-up ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

For now, Antonelli remains focused on his current challenges in Formula 2, but with Wolff’s guidance and the promise of a bright future, he could very well be the next Italian driver to grace the Formula 1 grid in a Mercedes car.