Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s debut in F1 is approaching, and according to David Coulthard, the Italian rookie is “the most prepared” for the Circus. After multiple tests with old Mercedes cars and a rising season in Formula 2, the young driver from Bologna will be permanently on the grid starting in 2025. He faces the daunting task of replacing Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, who will join Scuderia Ferrari starting with the next season.
Debuting in Formula 1 is never easy, and doing so with a top team is even harder. In a few months, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will officially become a Mercedes driver, the team that dominated Formula 1 between 2014 and 2020. It’s a significant step for the young Italian who, if he wins in the first races of the year, could even break Max Verstappen’s records for the youngest victories.
Handling pressure will be crucial: he will have to face George Russell, a very fast driver who this year has shown he can even beat Lewis Hamilton. Moreover, the challenge could turn into a survival duel: if Mercedes convinces Max Verstappen to join the team, one of the two will have to leave.
“Antonelli is probably the most ready rookie for Formula 1,” explains David Coulthard on the *Formula for Success* podcast. “He’s done a lot of testing in old Mercedes cars and has had the opportunity to learn from a seven-time world champion. He has to be ready from the start. It will be an exciting challenge with George Russell, who has always been the fastest of the Mercedes drivers this year.”
“I know Lewis has questioned the tires and everything else, but we can only judge based on the results, and ultimately, you have to do the best with what you have,” concludes the Scotsman.
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