Ralf Schumacher tells Kimi Antonelli he’s just shut down talks of 28-podium F1 driver joining Mercedes

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Kimi Antonelli recorded his best result in F1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since his maiden podium in Montreal in June, and Ralf Schumacher believes he has shut down talks of being replaced with one Grand Prix winner due to it.

Antonelli has had a rollercoaster of a rookie season in F1 with Mercedes. After stepping into the shoes of the outgoing Lewis Hamilton, the 19-year-old has shown glimpses of generational talent, as well as several mistakes that can be attributed to his lack of experience.

Amid claims that the young Italian wasn’t ready for a step up to Formula 1 with the works Mercedes team, several candidates have emerged as potential replacements for Antonelli at the Silver Arrows.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has refused to entertain talks of a loan for Antonelli, insisting that he is the best possible replacement for Hamilton, who left the Brackley-based racing outfit after 12 highly successful seasons.

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Kimi Antonelli’s result in Baku has closed the door on Mercedes’ talks with Carlos Sainz

One of the names that has been in conversations regarding a replacement for the Italian driver is Williams‘ Carlos Sainz. Former F1 driver turned pundit, Ralf Schumacher, previously stated that Sainz is ready for the Mercedes call ‘at any time’.

However, following Antonelli’s haul at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Schumacher noted that the door to Mercedes has now been closed.

Speaking on the Sky Sports podcast, Backstage Boxengasse, the former F1 driver said, “I mean, life in Formula 1 is very short-lived. After the weekend, we’ll come straight to Lawson and Tsunoda, how it could be now if it continues like this, in these last races, and the same applies to Mercedes.

“I believe Kimi Antonelli has had another important weekend for him, which helps him, but also gives him a different public image and, internally, above all, because it wasn’t just Kimi who was under pressure.

“If I may say so, it was primarily a decision made by Toto Wolff and, of course, when the driver who is proposed is discussed with the two main shareholders together with Toto Wolff, and it doesn’t work out, then they also say, ‘Hey, what do we do now?’

“In the end, the whole thing is expensive, and we also have to be in the constructors’ championship and so on, and that’s very important this weekend. I think Kimi had a good, solid weekend, and he can build on that now. That’s why I don’t believe that the door will open again for Carlos Sainz.”

Schumacher wasn’t alone in his push for the German team to sign the experienced Spanish driver. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner also called upon Mercedes to sign Sainz in place of Antonelli.

READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Carlos Sainz also had an impressive outing in Baku as he secured his first podium for Williams

Despite the door closing on Sainz with Antonelli’s result, the 31-year-old certainly made a great case for himself on the streets of Baku.

After securing a front-row start during an extraordinary qualifying session on Saturday, which saw a record number of six red flags, the Williams driver withstood the pressure from behind to keep himself in podium contention.

Sainz ended up taking the chequered flag in third place, with George Russell being the only man on the circuit who was able to challenge him for second.

It was a feel-good moment for the Williams team, who last stood on the podium in 2021 at a soaking wet Belgian Grand Prix that saw no green flag racing.

Team principal James Vowles predicted that Williams had the ingredients for a podium this year, and Sainz was the man to cook up something delicious.