Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that 17-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli is the main contender for the vacant position next season.
Mercedes leader Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari in 2025, freeing up a spot in the team's lineup. Antonelli has been a member of Mercedes' junior academy since 2019. He currently represents Prema in Formula 2.
[Antonelli] is definitely a very strong contender. I want to see how his F2 season develops, but we will wait and see what happens with some of the other drivers in F1. I don't doubt his raw speed, talent and ability.
Toto Wolff
Earlier, Lewis Hamilton said that he believes Sebastian Vettel is an excellent option for Mercedes. Wolff thinks that the team needs to prepare before the possible arrival of Max Verstappen.