Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes F1 replacement doubts revealed during champion's 'USELESS' rant

Antonelli ahead of practice at Monza — Photo: © IMAGO

Mercedes

Hamilton Mercedes replacement doubts revealed during champion's 'USELESS' rant

Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Tuesday 17 September 2024 19:57

A Formula 1 champion has raised doubts over Kimi Antonelli’s future at Mercedes whilst also blasting a junior series for their ‘useless’ driver development.

The Italian youngster will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next season, when the seven-time champion will depart to Ferrari.

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Antonelli's talent saw him fast-tracked to Formula 2 this year, and after completing a series of private tests for Mercedes, the team felt confident in his promotion.

However, during his FP1 debut at the Italian GP, Antonelli crashed early in the session, a mistake Toto Wolff has asked him to learn from whilst remaining supportive of the young driver.

Kimi Antonelli crashed on his F1 debut in Monza

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes in 2025

Will Kimi Antonelli succeed at Mercedes?

Following a discussion regarding Antonelli’s future at Mercedes on Sky Sports, 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve raised doubts over whether he will continue to be nurtured in this way when he moves to Mercedes.

"The teams don't have any duty at all this is not school it's not a school yard this is the top level, the pinnacle of racing," Villeneuve said.

"The driver just has to be tough whatever his age. He [Antonelli] is super fast, super talented, is that enough for F1?

"There's a mental process that you cannot prepare in other categories."

The nature of Antonelli’s promotion also sparked conversation over the value of feeder series' F2 and F3, none of which the 18-year-old has won.

When asked where this approach to hiring youngsters left the series, Villeneuve labelled them as ‘useless’.