Teen Sensation Antonelli Tests with Mercedes as Potential Hamilton Successor

Andrea Kimi Antonelli a 17 years old racing talent is set to undergo a private test in a Mercedes F1 car to evaluate his potential as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton who is leaving for Ferrari next year. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal views Antonelli as a “wonderkid” and has organized the test to assess his readiness for the 2025 or 2026 season.

If Antonelli is held back until 2026, Mercedes may need a short-term replacement for Hamilton with high profile options like Fernando Alonso available in the “incredibly interesting” market for 2025. Wolff plans to evaluate replacement options over the next few races, weighing the choice between experience and youth.

Antonelli entering his rookie season in Formula 2 is considered a promising talent having excelled in karting and F4. Wolff highlighted Antonelli’s achievements and mentioned the decision to skip F3 and directly move him to F2 for a more comprehensive assessment.