“I can’t ignore the fact that he’s in the 2022 car, running tests in the car to get himself familiarised with it, and he’s pretty bloody good,” Allison explained to host Tom Clarkson.
“It’s a nice background feeling for me as I worry about the here and now, which is making the car work, to think that we’ve got this burgeoning young talent who is gathering his strength, and who’s headed our way at some point.”
READ MORE: Verstappen offers advice to Mercedes junior Antonelli while Russell assesses his prospects as a possible future team mate
Antonelli’s name has frequently been linked with Lewis Hamilton’s soon-to-be vacant seat at Mercedes in 2025. Reflecting on whether the rookie is ready for the step up to F1, Allison drew comparison with Antonelli’s F2 team mate Oliver Bearman, who impressed many with his stand-in performance for an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“It is a huge ask but I think if the talent is there, it won’t matter,” Allison commented. “When Lewis was first put in a Formula 1 car, I think a lot of people would have said that’s a huge ask straight from GP2.
.png?w=218&resize=218,150&ssl=1 "‘I feel let down’ – Lando Norris says Verstappen ‘in the wrong’ as both drivers give their take on clash in Austria")
