F1 News: F2 star's audition to replace Hamilton CONFIRMED

F1 News

F2 star's audition to replace Hamilton CONFIRMED

Kimi Andrea Antonelli will step into a Mercedes F1 car this month

Sheona Mountford

Tuesday 2 April 2024 06:00

A potential Hamilton replacement has been given the opportunity to test for Mercedes later this month.

Key names have been attached to the seat including Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and even Max Verstappen if he decides to leave Red Bull.

Article continues under video

However, Mercedes have had a difficult start to the season, currently fourth in the constructors’ championship behind McLaren.

Team boss Toto Wolff has suggested that Hamilton’s head has already been turned by Ferrari this season, due to the lack of performance at Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz, Kimi Andrea Antonelli, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris

Mercedes seat favourite in Austria test

The F2 driver will test whilst on a break from the championship, which does not race again until Imola in May.

Ex-driver Karun Chandhok has praised the future star on social media saying: “From everything I hear of Antonelli, he’s pretty damn special. Spoke with the F3 engineers who ran him recently on a private test day.

“Said he was the best driver in an F3 car since [Max] Verstappen! McLaren gamble with rookie Lewis in 2007 worked out.”

Agree with @SportmphMark - from everything I hear of Antonelli, he’s pretty damn special.

Spoke with the F3 engineers who ran him recently on a private test day. Said he was the best driver in an F3 car since Verstappen!

McLaren gamble with rookie Lewis in 2007 worked out 🤷🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/23251LfhiL
— Karun Chandhok (@karunchandhok) February 12, 2024

Team boss Toto Wolff has also been supportive of Antonelli accompanying him on a track day at Imola, but does not want to place too much pressure on the young driver.

Speaking to Fox Sports Australia Wolff said: “We have a young kid [Antonelli] that is very promising, and I don't want to put more extra pressure on him. But it looks like he can be one of the great ones.

"But we also don't want to drown him by jumping so quickly into an F1 car at 17. So there's a few options that we could play with him.”

Red Bull Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes McLaren