Mercedes told replacing Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli “not fair - a mistake”

“You a✱re putting in🌌credible pressure on him," Mercedes are warned

Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff

Mercedes are set to m🎃ake a “mistake”ꦏ in their choice of replacement for Lewis Hamilton.

That’s according to Eddie Jordan, the former F1 team boss who worries for the🍎 rookie driver that is likely to step into Hamilton’s shoes.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the teenage talent who has come through the Mercedes ranks, is ❀widel✃y reported to be stepping up into Formula 1 next season.

Mercedes are yet to confi💯rm who will replace Ferrari-bou𝓰nd Hamilton.

“I think he will go with Antonelli even though I think it🍸’s a mistake,” Jordan told his Formula For Success podcܫast.

“You are putting incredible pressure on him.

“Mercedes should be fighting for a constructors’ championship wh𒈔ile they still look after Antonelli, which is what Toto want to do.

“But pu🐼tting him in the lime𝓰light, a rabbit in the headlights… you just don’t want that. It’s not fair.

“He’s not doing enouওgh in Formula 2 at the moment to give me the inspiration that he is ready to win grands prix and take on the pressure at Mercedes.”

Italianꦰ driver Antonelli is still only 17 years old, and bypassed F3 to step into a rookie season in F2 this year.

He has won one sprint race and one feature race so farℱ.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has regula༺rly spoken of Antonelli’s prodigious talent.

With just three seats remaining to complete the 2025 F1 driver line-u✨p (Sauber, RB and Mercedes) there are no high-profile candidates remaining to replace Hamilton.

Wolff’s faith in Antonelli looks set to result in the teenager🌜 getting the nod to pick up🦩 where Hamilton leaves off in 2025.

Read More