Mercedes has fallen into an unprecedented crisis in the hybrid era of Formula 1. They seem to have only one path to go back to greatness.
The three-pointed star no longer shines on the track. If in the last season, despite no victories, a second place finish was achieved, a distant second from Red Bull Racing, in 2024 the step backwards was notable. With a demotivated Hamilton and already thinking about his next adventure in Ferrari, iGeorge Russell alone isn’t always able to make the difference on the W15.
The big question mark surrounding the silver arrow is whether it will be driven by an experienced pilot or a young man with high hopes. Initially in the circle of candidates there were Alonso, Ocon, Sainz and the Italian talent Kimi Antonelli. The two-time world champion has renewed with Aston Martin. Carlos Sainz was officially rejected by Toto Wolff who narrowed the choice to his former pupil Esteban Ocon and the young Kimi Antonelli.
The son of art has already made a notable leap from F4 to F2. For now the results have not arrived in Prema, but in Mercedes they would be sure that the Emilian talent can make the difference, immediately, in F1. 2025 risks being a transition year in view of the regulatory change of the following championship and the responsibilities would be relative on the shoulders of the Italian. The comparison with Lewis Hamilton would be stupid, but he will inevitably find himself in an environment that makes best or nothing the ownership motto.
Toto Wolff’s concern
On the Sky Sports F1 podcast, analyst Bernie Collins explained why Wolff is keen to bring Antonelli to Mercedes as early as 2025.”There is the impression that there is potentially a fear of losing the next Verstappen – announced Bernie Collins – They want to give their support to someone young and then take them through the program and then potentially, in a few years’ time, that will be the next Verstappen“.
“There’s that sort of fear of missing out on the chance to get Kimi in that seat and that’s potentially why there would be this push to put him in his place a little earlier, potentially he’s ready“, he added. The fact is that there is a risk of it burning too quickly. The foreign media will be ready to massacre him at the first mistake, framing him as Hamilton’s heir and future champion of the highest category of motorsport. Comparisons are always risky in F1, even more so at 17 years old.
