F1 team chief reveals Mercedes ‘offered’ them the chance to sign Kimi Antonelli for the 2025 season

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Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was in desperate need of the summer break after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The signs at the start of Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 career were that Mercedes had made the right choice promoting him so quickly into Lewis Hamilton’s seat.

Despite a tough qualifying performance at the Australian Grand Prix, Antonelli made up 12 positions in treacherous conditions to finish fourth and get his season off to the perfect start.

The Italian’s raw pace was immediately apparent, and he became the youngest driver ever to record a pole position in the Sprint Race in Miami.

Antonelli recorded his only podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, where George Russell took Mercedes’ only win this season.

However, the 19-year-old’s recent form has been questionable to say the least.

Before Antonelli’s P10 finish in Hungary just before the summer break, he had only scored points once in the previous seven races, which was his podium in Montreal.

Alex Jacques exclusively told F1 Oversteer that Toto Wolff ruled out loaning Antonelli to another team when he saw how Esteban Ocon’s career panned out following his time at Manor and Force India.

However, Sauber chief Mattia Binotto has now revealed that Mercedes ‘offered’ his team the chance to sign Antonelli for the 2025 F1 season, but went in a different direction instead.

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Mattia Binotto says Mercedes ‘offered’ Kimi Antonelli to Sauber for the 2025 F1 season

Binotto was asked how he rates Antonelli’s first year at Mercedes in an interview with Il Giornale and revealed: “They offered him to us, but I wasn’t involved in the decision.

“It’s a difficult year for him, because despite the talent everyone recognises in him, he’s exposed to the media pressure of a top team like Mercedes.”

He was then questioned about other topics in the Formula 1 paddock, including both Ferrari drivers.

Binotto said when asked about whether he expects Charles Leclerc to improve further: “I think he’s driving very well, his talent is evident and he’s improved a lot in tyre management.”

He was then asked whether Ferrari made the right decision hiring Lewis Hamilton this season and explained: “I think Hamilton is one of the greatest of all time, but at this stage of his career, I’m not sure he was the right choice.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Sauber from team principal to 2026 Audi future

Did Mercedes and Sauber make the right decision not to go ahead with the Kimi Antonelli loan deal?

There are two sides to every deal in the Formula 1 driver market, and this is no exception.

Mercedes considered a move for Carlos Sainz and would have had several other experienced drivers offering up their services if Toto Wolff had gone in a different direction.

Although Antonelli hasn’t hit the heights he and the team might have hoped for, he’s also up against one of the most in-form drivers on the grid, which is making his performances look worse than they are.

Wolff regretted loaning Russell out for as long as he did to Williams, and given where Sauber were last season, would have feared a repeat of that problem.

On the other side of the coin, Sauber will feel extremely satisfied with their decision to sign Gabriel Bortoleto.

The Brazilian is going from strength to strength with each race and has a better qualifying record than his experienced teammate, Nico Hulkenberg.

The decision not to loan out Antonelli has worked out for both parties, although he’ll be keen to close the gap to Russell at the Dutch Grand Prix.