Helmut Marko skeptical about Mercedes’ choice of Kimi Antonelli: “Like with Max Verstappen”. Helmut Marko has commented again on Kimi Antonelli.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his debut in Melbourne on March 16, becoming Russell’s new teammate. After just one season in F2 and some official F1 test sessions, the Italian talent is ready to bring the tricolor flag back to the top tier of motorsport. However, Helmut Marko thinks Mercedes’ decision to put Antonelli directly in the W16 could be a major gamble, suggesting they should have followed the Max Verstappen model.

Speaking to Sport.de, Marko compared Antonelli’s debut to that of Max Verstappen, highlighting a key difference. “Antonelli is a risk, but we took the same one with Verstappen; he was young when he got into the car too. However, Max wasn’t in a top team, so he faced less pressure,” Marko stated.

Kimi Antonelli, 18 years and seven months old at the time of his debut, will be one of the youngest drivers in F1 history, behind only Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Unlike his predecessors, however, Antonelli will be entering directly into a top team, increasing expectations and pressure on him.

Marko also acknowledged Kimi Antonelli’s potential but warned of the risks. “We saw at Monza that he was very fast in the first corners, but by the fourth, he ended up in the wall. If he uses his strengths, he could become a threat to Russell,” he said.

With Lewis Hamilton’s departure, George Russell is now Mercedes’ team leader. Although he outperformed Lewis Hamilton in several statistics in 2024, the arrival of a young talent like Kimi Antonelli could complicate things, especially with the Briton’s contract expiring. George Russell will need to continue proving his worth to secure his place in the team for 2026 when the new power unit era begins.

A calculated risk?
Mercedes is clearly betting on Antonelli’s raw talent to open a new chapter in its Formula 1 history. However, as Helmut Marko points out, the high pressure and internal dynamics of the team will make 2025 a pivotal year for both the young Italian and George Russell, who will need to prove they can coexist and compete at the highest level.