Kimi Antonelli shares what he found difficult during Mercedes F1 test at Silverstone

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There are only four race seats left on the 2025 Formula 1 grid that have yet to be filled.

Alpine, Audi and RB are all still assessing their options, but it appears as though Mercedes have made their choice.

George Russell has been retained but Lewis Hamilton’s surprise move to Ferrari has produced a conundrum for team principal Toto Wolff.

Wolff has been desperate to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull but that distant possibility appears to have faded even further.

It means that Mercedes are going to promote from within and it’s only a matter of time before teenager Kimi Antonelli is confirmed as Russell’s teammate.

Antonelli has been testing Mercedes F1 cars behind closed doors all year, although he’s yet to take part in an official FP1 session.

In an interview with Motorsport Italy, Antonelli was talking about his experiences in the car.

Antonelli has raced against Mick Schumacher during these sessions giving senior personnel at Mercedes an indication of how quick he really is.

Mercedes staff have been left surprised by some of Antonelli’s performances but it’s not been completely straightforward.

The 17-year-old has shared one difficulty he had while he was testing at Silverstone earlier in the year.

It’s something that Wolff will know he has to iron out before he makes his full Formula 1 debut potentially as early as 2025.

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

Kimi Antonelli’s ‘difficulty’ during Mercedes F1 test at Silverstone

Talking about testing a Mercedes F1 car at Silverstone, Antonelli was asked to describe the experience and said: “Incredible! You think it’s not possible, then when you try and see that the car is there you say to yourself… damn, there’s still room for improvement!

“An F1 single-seater gives you so much confidence, if I have to point out a difficulty I’ve encountered it was finding the limit.

“I’m still in that phase where I understand I can ask for more, every time I dare something the car is there, the more I ask the more the single-seater gives me.

“The moment will come when I’ll understand that there’s nothing left to squeeze, that will be the limit, but it’s a very narrow window, I’m aware that the margin for error is very thin.

“I’m working to understand how to be stable in the correct window, the more confidence with the car grows the more confidence I feel.”

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

Kimi Antonelli really impressing in Formula 2 this season

Antonelli stepped up to Formula 2 via FRECA this year, skipping Formula 3 completely and it appears to be the correct decision from Mercedes.

PREMA have not been as impressive as normal in F2 but Antonelli has got the better of teammate Oliver Bearman in the championship.

It looks like Antonelli will join Bearman in Formula 1 next year and there are a handful of other F2 drivers hoping to earn a similar promotion.

Antonelli has kicked on in the previous few rounds, winning at Silverstone and the Hungaroring before pulling off several brilliant overtaking moves at Spa.

Williams team principal James Vowles was impressed with Antonelli for pulling off an amazing overtake going up Eau Rouge in treacherous conditions.

There is one scenario that could see Antonelli replace Logan Sargeant at Williams although it looks extremely unlikely.

Instead, all eyes will be on the young Italian when he almost certainly takes to the grid in a Mercedes in 2025.