Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes F1's signing of Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a 'bold' move by team principal Toto Wolff
Antonelli will be George Russell's teammate in 2025, replacing Lewis Hamilton, who left for Ferrari, and will become the first rookie fielded by Mercedes in F1… since 1954.
The Italian, who will begin his first season aged just 18, is highly regarded by Wolff and has been dubbed the 'new Verstappen' after a rapid rise through the junior categories.
Observing Antonelli, the 2016 world champion thinks he will adapt quickly to the premier category.
“I know Kimi very well, he was racing in my karting academy in 2019, and I had already seen at that age what impressive talent he had.”
“It’s a bold move on Toto’s part, but we can’t ignore the potential this kid has.”
-“He will definitely make mistakes in 2025, but I know Mercedes will support him well. He has a bright future ahead of him and I can't wait to see how he adapts to F1.”
“The first few seasons are full of challenges, and having someone experienced to guide you can make a real difference. George will now have that role.”
“Overall, I hope that all the newbies coming in this year will have strong support around them, because F1 can be unforgiving and, after a few poor performances, things can change quickly for them.”
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