There’s a lot of hype surrounding Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 debut – the sort of which hasn’t been witnessed since Max Verstappen burst onto the scene nearly nine years ago.
The Silver Arrows are taking a gamble in placing the 18-year-old straight into a seat, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Antonelli won’t and cannot be expected to explode onto the scene.
His first race will be the Australian Grand Prix as Formula 1 returns to Down Under for the season opener – the first time it has done so since 2019.
Antonelli knows the circuit having competed there in Formula 2 this season as he managed a fourth-place finish in the Feature Race.
He should have a strong car beneath him given that Mercedes ended the 2024 season with some strong form, but nothing is a given and plenty of development could happen over the winter.
Antonelli had a surprising test advantage over Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi and has been completing plenty of laps behind the wheel in preparation.
It makes the Italian one of the best-prepared rookies in recent history, especially given the limitations on extra mileage that teams have nowadays.
Toto Wolff indicates that Kimi Antonelli cannot have an ‘arrogance’ or ‘entitlement’ at Mercedes
Mercedes finished fourth in this year’s Constructors’ Championship a fair way behind the front three of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.
They still managed to take multiple victories with each driver though and their car should be capable of similar things next season given the stability of the regulations.
Netflix’s Drive to Survive team will probably be covering their efforts closely as Antonelli embarks on his first full-time venture.
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Wolff spoke to them a few years ago during the 2021 season and mentioned what sort of attitude he will not tolerate from a young driver racing for Mercedes like Antonelli will be next year.
“With a young driver, you need to expect mistakes,” he said.
“But things that would be inexcusable are arrogance, a sense of entitlement, and an approach of ‘it wasn’t my fault, it was always someone else’s mistake.’”
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One key example which suggests that it may have been unfair to promote the young Italian so soon lies within his new teammate.
George Russell was forced to spend three seasons at Williams developing as a driver at the back of the field before he got an opportunity with the German manufacturer.
Considering Mercedes’ ties to Williams with regards to engine agreements and the free seat there was at one stage this season, a similar move could have been replicated.
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It would’ve allowed the Silver Arrows to find a more experienced replacement including the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas or even the man Williams ended up signing – Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes were worried about swapping Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, who heads to Ferrari in 2025 as they always had their eye on their junior driver.
A repeat of the decision which cost them Max Verstappen nearly 10 years ago will have been on their mind and a key reason why Sainz was overlooked.
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