Lewis Hamilton is set to depart from Mercedes after the conclusion of the 2024 F1 season. The transfer market for drivers in 2024 has sparked intense debate for various reasons. Recent events have led to an open seat at Mercedes for the upcoming season, and the former world champion in 2016 has expressed his thoughts on the matter.
A promising candidate to fill the vacancy is a Mercedes junior who has garnered significant attention. However, Nico Rosberg believes it would not be in Mercedes’ best interest to bring in the 17-year-old prodigy. Rosberg advocates for Mercedes to explore other options instead of Antonelli.
Antonelli currently competes in F2, and Rosberg suggests closely monitoring his performance this season to determine his future in F1. In addition to Antonelli, Mercedes has several drivers in consideration for the 2025 seat, including , , , and the former four-time world champion, .
While Rosberg advises against signing Kimi Antonelli for 2025, he proposes a potential solution for the Italian driver. Rosberg believes that Williams could provide the perfect opportunity for Antonelli to gain F1 experience. Toto Wolff, known for his strong connections with the Williams team, could facilitate this move.
Williams has a history of supplying Mercedes with drivers ready for F1, as demonstrated by the successful transitions of and . Considering all these factors, Rosberg’s suggestion could be a low-risk method for Mercedes to assess Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s potential in F1. This approach would allow Wolff and his team to make an informed decision about the 17-year-old’s future, and the coming months will provide further clarity on Antonelli’s next steps.