Kimi Antonelli has given new perception into how Mercedes dealt with Lewis Hamilton’s departure forward of the 2025 Method 1 marketing campaign.
On 1 February 2024, it was introduced that Hamilton was going to go away his longtime Mercedes squad to hitch Ferrari from the 2025 season onwards.
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The transfer was a direct consequence of Mercedes not giving the seven-time world champion a agency contract for 2025 – the two-year deal ranging from 2024 featured escape clauses that Hamilton was in a position to make use of. However the motive for these phrases was crew principal Toto Wolff’s keenness to not let Antonelli slip by means of his fingers the way in which Max Verstappen had a decade prior.
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Nonetheless, selling the Italian teenager to the crew was removed from a no brainer. When Wolff came upon about Hamilton’s exit, days earlier than it was introduced, the 17-year-old was but to race in F1’s major two feeder collection.
Antonelli’s racing report was proof of his super potential – titles in Italian F4, ADAC F4, Method Regional Center East and Method Regional Europe over his first two years in single-seaters – however bypassing F3 to leap straight to F2 already was a tall order.
But, Antonelli has revealed in SAP’s newest Vital Figures video that Wolff had brazenly made him his favorite to hitch George Russell at Mercedes as early as January – even earlier than the Hamilton information formally got here out.
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“I used to be in Silverstone, and I used to be testing Method 3 to be taught the monitor as a result of I used to be going to race there with Method 2,” Antonelli narrated.
“And I bear in mind on the finish of the day, Toto known as me over to his workplace. And already there, I used to be a bit confused as a result of I am like, it does not actually occur, you realize?
“So, I bought into his workplace. Clearly, it is Toto, there’s Rosa [Herrero Venegas, senior PR manager] – she’s the one serving to me throughout race weekends.
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“Toto, to start with, did not waste any time – went straight to the purpose. This was even earlier than Lewis was introduced to Ferrari.
“So, he stated, ‘Look, Lewis goes to Ferrari, and we have been pondering to place you within the automotive for subsequent yr’. And I am like, ‘Whoa!’, my eyes have been like large open.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15
“I used to be like, ‘Are you kidding me?’, as a result of I hadn’t even began F2. So, I had nonetheless a lot to show – a lot to show that I might earn that spot. And Toto was already speaking about it!
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“I used to be like, ‘OK’. And he was like, ‘Effectively, if the chance comes, will you be prepared?’, and I stated, ‘Yeah, I imply, I’ve bought to be prepared’. However after all, then the crew additionally helped me as a result of they made me do testing with the Method 1 [car].”
Antonelli had a scrappy F2 marketing campaign – as Wolff did count on from such an inexperienced driver – however nonetheless took a few race victories and was formally introduced as a Mercedes F1 driver on 31 August, as he lay seventh within the F2 standings.
Even then, he might hardly consider it. “Really, I used to be extraordinarily comfortable, however on the identical time, it was such an enormous factor for me that it took me some time to understand what has simply occurred,” Antonelli added. “And I bear in mind mendacity on this sunbed within the terrace, simply staring on the sky as a result of I used to be simply attempting to course of what has simply occurred.”
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“I let the strain destroy me”
Regardless of Antonelli’s apparent potential, Wolff by no means shied away from the truth that his promotion to Mercedes had been rushed by Hamilton’s sudden exit. The rookie’s 2025 season was unsurprisingly up-and-down, as he took fourth on debut in Melbourne and scored a maiden F1 podium in Montreal, however went on to gather simply three factors at European circuits. This hardship took a toll on his psychological well being on the time.
Requested about dealing with strain from the expectation and perception individuals had in him, Antonelli replied: “Principally final yr I felt this, as a result of clearly I had begin of the season. Then I had a tough interval, European season, the place I actually struggled.
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“And in that second, I let the strain like sort of destroy me as nicely throughout that interval, as a result of I felt like I used to be letting down so many individuals who had believed in me. In fact, particularly Toto, as a result of he was the principle one who took the choice. And clearly I did not really feel good in that interval, you realize, I wasn’t doing nicely.
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
“However then clearly I had an enormous assembly with the crew after the European season and it sort of allowed me to reset and simply begin once more. I slowly discovered my manner again, after which I had second half of the season.
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“Having the ability to overcome these tough moments gave me the arrogance forward of this yr and likewise made me be taught lots about myself, not solely as a driver however as an individual as nicely.
“In that European season, in all probability, a lot of the issues that I did did not assist me in any respect. I’ve discovered about how my physique responds to these moments, how my mind responds, what helps myself to get again into the precise focus, the precise mindset, what helps me to remain 100% when it comes to power throughout the entire weekend, find out how to handle myself with occasions, clearly the driving and every little thing. So I’ve discovered lots about myself and the way as nicely to answer tough moments.”
The distinction could not be starker between 2025-spec Antonelli and the motive force who’s now main the world championship after profitable 5 grands prix in a row – a feat no one has achieved with out profitable the world title.
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Requested how steep the training curve had been and the way overwhelming it had felt, Antonelli admitted: “Large time. I used to be so drained on the finish of the yr.
“Clearly the crew did an unimaginable job on attempting to guard me. However the studying curve – I believe I discovered rather more than if I had gone in a smaller crew. I felt the training curve was unimaginable. It felt like doing three years directly. And it was overwhelming, bodily, mentally, as a result of I made so many new experiences as nicely.
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“And in addition doing a full F1 season for the primary time, you do not actually know the place you are going, what you are about to face. As a result of clearly the yr previous to F1, I would been doing race-shadowing and every little thing, nevertheless it’s not the identical, clearly. And since after I was doing shadowing, I used to be watching, I wasn’t there on monitor doing the job.
“So I felt very overwhelmed on the finish of the yr. And it was good to have a little bit of a break to simply have a little bit of time to analyse and replicate on the yr and perceive what have been the nice issues and why, and why some issues went not in the precise manner.”
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