Midfield F1 team have now ‘made clear’ that they won’t ‘accept’ a Mercedes loan deal for Kimi Antonelli

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Kimi Antonelli is enduring a brutal run. Heading into this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, he’s on a three-race scoreless streak.

This is the longest such sequence for a Mercedes driver since the end of the 2012 season, when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher were racing for the team. And to make matters worse, Antonelli’s Canadian GP podium is his only return in the last seven events.

As the table below shows, Antonelli has been outscored by several midfield drivers during this spell. That list includes Isack Hadjar, another Formula 2 graduate.

Some have consequently suggested that Mercedes should loan out Antonelli to another team. They don’t think he’s ready for the demands of a frontrunner and would benefit from a year or two in the midfield.

Why Williams aren’t interested in loaning Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes

The easiest way for Mercedes to find a spot for Antonelli, in theory, would be to leverage their position as an engine supplier. They currently have deals with McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin, though Alpine will replace the latter next year.

Williams previously fielded George Russell for three seasons before he stepped up to the Silver Arrows. They are also managed by James Vowles, a former strategist at Brackley.

However, according to FOX Sports Australia, Williams have ‘made clear’ that they no longer see themselves as the kind of ‘minnows’ who would ‘accept that sort of deal’. They want to build around Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon instead.

As for Alpine, they’re reluctant to a field a rookie alongside the under-contract Pierre Gasly. It would also be seen as ‘somewhat embarrassing’ to ‘train up’ a driver for the competition given that they’re representing the Renault brand.

Do Mercedes regret snubbing an alternative Lewis Hamilton replacement?

Martin Brundle says Mercedes should have loaned Antonelli out for 2025, rather than accelerating him into the top team. At 18, he’s the third-youngest driver in the sport’s history.

Going a step further still, Guenther Steiner reckons it was too soon for Antonelli to even be on the F1 grid. It’s worth remembering that he did take Sprint pole in Miami, a reflection of his huge talent.

• READ MORE: Alex Jacques believes Mercedes ‘regret’ one Kimi Antonelli career decision after difficult Belgian Grand Prix

Antonelli was chosen as the replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who announced his move to Ferrari in February last year. Hamilton’s partnership with Mercedes was historic, but he had lost form by the end.

Perhaps Mercedes privately regret not signing a proven commodity like Sainz at the time, while still keeping Antonelli on their books. But with no takers and the driver market looking sparse (following Max Verstappen’s recommitment to Red Bull), it looks like they’ll have to make the best of it from here.