Mercedes Technical Director James Allison harbours no doubt Andrea Kimi Antonelli would deliver should he be handed his Formula 1 debut next term with the team.
Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell decision to pursue a move to Ferrari in 2025 has opened up a vacant place at Mercedes which Antonelli is tipped as the favourite to take.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ruled out outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz this month as he revealed the marque was preparing to open up a new chapter with Antonelli.
The Italian, 17, has been dovetailing his maiden campaign in Formula 2, where he resides sixth overall, with a rigorous F1 testing programme in older-spec machinery.
While he is not involved in the decision-making process, Allison admitted that he is enthused with the prospect of designing a car that an upcoming talent could drive.
“I don’t have much to say about the drivers, I work on the car. They are more things for Toto, or maybe Gwen [Lagrue],” Allison told F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.
“However, I cannot ignore that he is doing several tests with our W13 from two years ago, trying to get familiar and it is damn good.”
“It’s a great feeling for me, even though I worry about the here and now, trying to get the car going, to know that we have this great young talent that will come our way at some point.
“If the talent is there, it won’t matter.”
Allison has pointed to Antonelli’s F2 team-mate Oliver Bearman and his drive to seventh in Saudi Arabia deputising for Carlos Sainz as evidence newcomers can thrive.
“When a rookie comes to Formula 1, it is a big challenge and yes, he will be young and that will put a lot of pressure on his shoulders,” he added.
“When you look at Bearman’s debut in Jeddah, that circuit is difficult and he came to the car at the last minute and look how he performed.
“If the driver has the ability, the temperament, he will take that step forward.”
“Everything indicates that Kimi will do it. It’s a big challenge, but if the talent is there, it will respond.”
Antonelli could be in line to make his F1 debut this season prior to turning 18 on August 25 amid the FIA’s choice to reduce the minimum age limit from 18 down to 17.
The dispensation request made to the FIA is thought to have come from Williams, which could be angling to replace under-pressure driver Logan Sargeant this season.
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