Mercedes Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin has given his take on why Kimi Antonelli – the youngster linked to the team’s vacant seat for 2025 – has stood out to the squad, as well as explaining whether the Silver Arrows’ improved form of late could influence the decision on their second driver.
With Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari being announced ahead of the 2024 season getting under way, speculation has continued over who will partner George Russell at Mercedes next season.
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The name perhaps most heavily linked to the position is that of Antonelli, the 17-year-old F2 driver who has impressed many during his rapid ascent through the motorsport ranks, having bypassed F3 after winning the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships.
In recent months the Italian has participated in tests for Mercedes, which saw him drive the team’s 2021 car at Austria’s Red Bull Ring in April before getting behind the wheel of the 2022 challenger at Imola prior to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.
