Kimi Antonelli fails to convince Juan Pablo Montoya
On multiple occasions, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has pointed out potential challenges for Mercedes and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the upcoming season. The young Italian, set to make his Formula 1 debut, will inherit the seat of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Montoya has previously suggested that the 18-year-old is not yet ready for such a significant step up to the pinnacle of motorsport.
The return of Valtteri Bottas
A mix of on- and off-track pressures for George Russell’s new teammate has left Montoya unconvinced. For the Colombian, who won seven races during his career, Mercedes has already taken measures to address any potential issues with Antonelli’s performance through an official move: after his stint with Sauber, Valtteri Bottas has been welcomed back to Brackley, this time in the role of a test driver.
According to the 49-year-old, this decision could prove ideal if Antonelli fails to meet expectations, allowing Mercedes to replace him with a more experienced and familiar driver: “Antonelli is under the spotlight with one of the best teams out there, alongside a teammate who is doing a great job,” Juan Pablo Montoya told *CasasDeApuestas.bet*. “He’s being marketed as the next Verstappen. If he doesn’t live up to it, it will be tough. My opinion is that, with Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes has ensured a safety net—a precaution. It’s a backup plan in case things don’t work out with Antonelli, and he knows it.”
High expectations
Kimi Antonelli is already under significant scrutiny ahead of his first races, a sentiment echoed by Karun Chandhok, now a commentator for Sky F1: “I think whether you’re driving for the team that finished 10th in the championship or the team at the top of the grid, as a rookie in F1, there’s no hiding,” the former Indian driver explained. “There are people like us analyzing every single sector of every single lap they do, and for Kimi Antonelli, coming in as a rookie with a top-tier team means he’s expected to deliver, just like Hamilton did when he joined McLaren and immediately secured nine podiums, or as Oscar Piastri has shown over the past two years. Expectations for rookies are very high. You can’t just sit there and say, ‘Oh, I’m here to learn.’ With Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and even Lewis Hamilton before them, that excuse no longer holds. These rookies have raised the bar for what is expected.”
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