Helmut Marko explains why “Kimi Antonelli is a risk for Mercedes”. Helmut Marko advises young Italian Kimi Antonelli not to push too hard in 2025.

A calculated risk?
When Lewis Hamilton decided to accept Ferrari’s offer for the 2025 season, few would have bet on Mercedes promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli to a full-time role. Toto Wolff has chosen to rely on the young Italian driver, who turned 18 last August, looking beyond the results Kimi Antonelli achieved in Formula 2, where he finished sixth with two wins.

“Antonelli is a risk,” Helmut Marko stated to Sport.de, explaining his reasoning in an interesting way: “We took a similar risk with Max, who was even younger when he first got into an F1 car. But he wasn’t in our top team, and for that reason, there was less pressure on him.”

Helmut Marko’s criticism
The Red Bull advisor then criticized Mercedes for allowing Kimi Antonelli to drive in the free practice sessions at Monza: “I found it an incomprehensible decision. The first three corners are incredibly fast, by the fourth he could have ended up against the wall or the guardrail.” However, Marko also offered advice: “If he makes the most of his strengths and the speed he clearly has, and develops slowly, he could become a threat. But if he tries to force it, then it will be his career at risk.”