Mercedes is thinking about its future, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen joining the team. But it seems like they might have their eyes set on Antonelli.
Hamilton, one of the best F1 drivers, thinks highly of Antonelli. He said he would choose him if it were up to him. This is a big deal because Mercedes usually doesn’t pick young drivers.
Mercedes has been supporting Antonelli, who is only 17 years old. They’ve been testing him in older cars and trying to get him ready for F1. They even tried to get him a special license to race in F1 early, but their boss said it wasn’t happening soon.
Antonelli is racing in Formula 2, which is a big step up for him. He’s doing okay against his more experienced teammate, Bearman. He’s learning a lot, and Mercedes is happy with his progress.
Teams are thinking long-term with contracts because of big changes coming in 2026. They want stable drivers who can help them prepare for these changes.
Mercedes has a history of loaning drivers to other teams to learn, like they did with George Russell. This helped both Russell and the team he went to. But now, with Mercedes not fighting for championships, they might give Antonelli a chance sooner.
Hamilton supports Antonelli because he knows what it’s like to be a young driver in F1. He got his start in F1 with McLaren, and it worked out well for them. It could work out well for Mercedes too.
