Nico Rosberg’s theory over why Mercedes chose Andrea Kimi Antonelli instead of Carlos Sainz

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli has finally been confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement after months of speculation over the 2025 Mercedes Formula 1 driver lineup.

The 18-year-old will make his full-time debut alongside George Russell in 2025 after the team announced their lineup on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

It came just under 24 hours after Antonelli had his first taste of 2024 machinery in place of Russell as part of Mercedes’ FP1 rookie allocation. But after just 10 minutes out on track, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s session was cut short when he crashed on his third timed lap.

Antonelli admitted that he took too much out of the sensitive Pirelli tyres, which caused him to lose control at the highspeed right-hander of Parabolica. Despite the crash, Antonelli has earned high praise from Mercedes chiefs who felt he did a good job at getting up to speed straight out of the garage.

Discussing his appointment on Sky Sports, former Mercedes driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg explained why the team took a risk with Antonelli instead of going with Carlos Sainz.

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Why Mercedes chose Andrea Kimi Antonelli over Carlos Sainz

Sainz was one of the most high-profile free agents at the start of the season as a direct consequence of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for 2025.

While there were rumours over Sainz’s future mulling around the F1 paddock before his Williams announcement, he was never in the same conversation for the drive at Mercedes.

Rosberg believes there is a simple reason why they felt Sainz was not the best fit for the seat alongside Russell.

“Mercedes was in a difficult position because what was the alternative? The alternative was someone like Carlos Sainz, which would’ve been a short bet but he’s not going to be the one that gives George Russell a run for his money,” said Rosberg.

“Kimi Antonelli, the talent he has, can definitely be the leader of the next generation. That is definitely been the most exciting move, albeit not ideal because his preparation has not been 100%.”

Is Andrea Kimi Antonelli the right driver for the job?

Mercedes has generated a considerable amount of hype around Antonelli before he even set foot in an F1 car, owing to him being part of their F1 Junior Academy.

His skill is clear to see after his performances in Formula 2 this year, having won two races and shown how well he performs under pressure in a team that is struggling.

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There is also an attribute that makes Antonelli stand out among the pack, which is his ability to retain information and use it to his advantage on track to build his confidence.

Wolff expects he will be back in Mercedes in 2024 at this year’s Mexican Grand Prix when he will replace Hamilton in the FP1 session.