Guenther Steiner shares what was ‘perfect’ about Kimi Antonelli’s Monza weekend

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There were plenty of highs and lows for Kimi Antonelli as he took part in his first Formula 1 weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.

The announcement that Kimi Antonelli would be Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes for the 2025 season had been expected for some time.

Toto Wolff chased Max Verstappen for some time and it doesn’t feel like that door is completely shut beyond next year.

However, in a press conference alongside fellow driver George Russell, Wolff announced that Antonelli would be making the step up from Formula 2 to F1 to make his debut in Australia next year.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes AMG F1 Team from team principal to lineage

The 18-year-old Formula 2 weekend was decent but not spectacular with Sauber hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto stealing the headlines in the Feature Race and Oliver Bearman returning to winning ways in the Sprint Race.

It was Antonelli’s exhilarating but short-lived performance in FP1 at Monza that caught the eye.

He briefly set the fastest time of the session before crashing at the final hairpin, with Antonelli achieving speeds beyond anything Hamilton could match in the session heading into the corner which was the main reason for the crash.

Reflecting on Antonelli’s weekend on The Red Flags Podcast, former Haas team boss turned pundit Guenther Steiner saw at least one positive for Mercedes.

He reflected on the long-term prospects for the Italian before explaining how well the team around Antonelli managed what could have been a very difficult PR situation for the 18-year-old.

Guenther Steiner tells Mercedes they did a ‘perfect’ job managing Kimi Antonelli’s Monza weekend

Talking about Antonelli’s FP1 debut, Steiner said: “Actually, we need to compliment the PR department for Mercedes.

“Shoutout to Bradley Lord, I hope he listens to this Bradley, this was the perfect strategy.”

Steiner is then asked what’s going on with the young Italian at Mercedes and he elaborated: “I think he missed out on Max and wanted to create his own little Maxi and that’s Kimi.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything to know

“The first year you need to give the guy [time], but it also depends also how he stacks up against the other ones.

“If you compare him with his teammate in 2026, he needs to be good. Otherwise, there’s no future.

“Mercedes needs to win, Mercedes is not here to take part or to make a car for Kimi Antonelli because Toto loves him.

“It’s like he needs to come up with the goods and the goods are results and the result is to beat your teammate.”

Kimi Raikkonen shares his opinion on Kimi Antonelli ahead of his Formula 1 debut

Antonelli has several months to concentrate on his F2 campaign before the spotlight is on him once again.

He will take part in at least one more FP1 session before the end of the season with Hamilton also required to give up his car at some point before the end of the year.

He will also continue the rigorous testing program he’s been working on behind the scenes with Mercedes in their 2022 car.

Antonelli’s namesake Kimi Raikkonen provided his verdict on the 18-year-old during the Italian Grand Prix weekend and seems excited about his prospects.

There has been a lot of build up to the moment Antonelli makes his full debut next year and how he deals with the pressure will show whether or not he’s got the potential to be a future world champion.