Mercedes are dealing with their first driver line-up change since 2022 but for the first time in more than a decade, it’s Lewis Hamilton moving on and not his teammate.
In the modern history of Mercedes’ time in Formula 1, they’ve only had five permanent drivers.
Their original pairing of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher certainly turned some heads but when Schumacher decided to retire again in 2012, Lewis Hamilton was brought in from McLaren.
The rest is history and after 12 seasons with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton became a seven-time world champion and the most successful driver in the sport’s history.
While Sebastian Vettel thinks Schumacher is F1’s greatest driver, Hamilton has now followed in the German’s footsteps to race for Ferrari.
The 40-year-old was joined by Valtteri Bottas when Rosberg announced his shock retirement after winning the 2016 drivers’ championship before George Russell was promoted into the Finn’s seat in 2022.
The sixth Formula 1 driver selected to drive Mercedes and replace Hamilton is Italian youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli isn’t feeling the pressure of replacing Hamilton but has to be carefully managed at this early stage of his career.
Peter Windsor was speaking on his Short Corners Podcast and explained the ‘massive mistake’ team principal Toto Wolff has to avoid with Antonelli going into this season.
Mercedes told not to make ‘massive mistake’ with Andrea Kimi Antonelli
It was pointed out to Windsor that Antonelli and Hamilton appeared to be driving longer corners in testing and replied: “You know what, I think you’re absolutely right!
“I watched a bit of Lewis and I thought, ‘What is he doing?’ I mean, he wasn’t really doing it, was he?
“He was just driving normal corners, I wonder whether he thinks that’s the only way I’m going to drive now. I’ve done if for so long at Mercedes now, I’ve got to do that.
“But, I think we’ll see some changes as it develops, but you’re absolutely right, I noticed the same thing.
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“I didn’t actually watch Kimi so I can’t say, but if Kimi’s doing that too, then that could well be a sign that they’ve told him to look at George Russell’s telemetry and copy George which I think would be a massive mistake just as I think it’s a mistake if Oscar’s trying to drive like Lando now.
“They’re probably saying to him, well, at Monza when you’re on the soft tyres, you’ve locked up, you brake much too late, you need to get your act together.
“But the way to do that isn’t to drive like George Russell because he’s not a George Russell driver and I hope they’re not doing that.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli faces difficult George Russell battle in debut Mercedes season
Russell is one of Formula 1’s most underrated drivers but will be relishing stepping up into Hamilton role’s as the team leader this season.
He’s already made headlines this year as he continues his feud with Red Bull star Max Verstappen, but it isn’t in Antonelli’s nature to sit in the shadows either.
The Italian’s driving style is aggressive and although he crashed during his first FP1 session in Monza last year, it also highlighted that he’s happy to push the limits immediately.
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Antonelli looked confident during pre-season testing and although lap times mean very little at this stage of the year, the Italian was turning heads.
During his race simulation run, Antonelli matched Charles Leclerc’s testing times which is remarkable given the difference in their experience.
Windsor has warned McLaren not to change Piastri’s driving style and it would be wise if Mercedes prevented Antonelli from changing his approach too much by studying Russell’s data.
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