Former team boss Eddie Jordan questions whether Mercedes made the right decision in signing Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old Italian is making his debut for the German racing team this season. After Lewis Hamilton‘s departure, team boss Toto Wolff deliberated for a long time over a replacement. Jordan believes that Mercedes, which saved a lot of money due to Hamilton’s departure, would have been better off securing Carlos Sainz Jr.
In the Formula for Success podcast, former team boss Eddie Jordan and former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard look ahead to the new season. One of the biggest highlights this year is Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is making his debut at a young age with the renowned Mercedes. Jordan estimates that the team saves about 50 million euros per year on Lewis Hamilton’s salary. He would have preferred to use that money to bring in Ferrari alumnus Carlos Sainz.
While Coulthard considers the young Antonelli, partly thanks to his numerous TPC tests, as ‘perhaps the best-prepared rookie’, Jordan is not yet convinced. “You say they’re investing in him (Antonelli), but they’re probably saving 50 million a year on Lewis Hamilton’s salary,” the Irishman responded. “That’s a huge bag of money. Let’s first see how he performs. For me, it remains a surprising choice. I still believe they should have gone for Carlos Sainz.”
High Expectations for Antonelli
“If Mercedes wants to win the constructors’ championship again, they need someone other than Antonelli,” Jordan explained. “With all due respect, you simply can’t do that in your first year. And if he does manage it, I’ll be the first to shout: ‘Hallelujah, you’ve done an amazing job.’ But I’m not convinced yet. Maybe I’ll have to eat my words and he turns out to be sensational, but at this moment, it’s a big question mark. Mercedes is ultimately asking a lot of him.”
For a long time, Sainz seemed to be the best option for Mercedes. The Spaniard had to suddenly look for a new employer early last year because Ferrari did not offer him a new contract in favor of Lewis Hamilton. The multiple race winner was an attractive candidate, but Toto Wolff did not want to risk Mercedes’ protege Antonelli, who had just debuted in Formula 2, leaving for the competition.
