Mercedes announced on Saturday that Kimi Antonelli, who crashed into the wall during VT1 the day before, will secure a permanent seat. From 2025, the young Italian will take over from Lewis Hamilton. However, former Mercedes driver and ex-world champion Nico Rosberg questions the choice for Antonelli. While the 18-year-old driver is undoubtedly ‘special’, Rosberg wonders if his debut is coming too soon.
Nico Rosberg was one of the first to raise questions about Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The driver from Bologna, who celebrated his eighteenth birthday during the GP of Zandvoort, is a world-class talent, but according to Rosberg, there’s a chance he might buckle under the pressure. “Perhaps a team like Williams would be more suitable,” he previously pondered.
Antonelli’s Debut with Silver Arrows Amidst Rosberg’s Doubts
It is now known that Antonelli will make his debut with the Silver Arrows in 2025. After several successful test days, he signed his first Formula 1 contract this weekend. However, Nico Rosberg still has doubts. “This boy is very, very special, that’s a fact,” he said on Saturday.
“He could well be the greatest talent of the next generation,” Rosberg continued. “Max Verstappen is currently the best, but in the future, Antonelli could take over that status from him. Personally, I think it’s still too early; I just watched a press conference and I shook my head. In my mind, I see myself standing there, and I could never have done this at eighteen.”
“He also lacks the confidence of a championship in Formula 2,” Rosberg added. “Of course, he has been unlucky to have a bad car, but as a result, he has not yet been able to show what he can do.” So far, Antonelli has won one sprint race and one main race in the training class – he is currently in seventh place in the championship.
