Allison explains how ‘pretty bloody good’ Antonelli is developing and if he’s ready for F1

Mercedes Technical Director James Allison has spoken of how impressed he has been by junior driver Kimi Antonelli, whilst also acknowledging that putting the 17-year-old into Formula 1 at such an early stage of his career would be a “huge ask”.

Antonelli is currently competing in his debut F2 season off the back of a rapid ascent through the ranks, which saw him bypass F3 after eye-catching success in junior formulas. This included winning the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships.

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The Italian youngster went on to get his first taste of F1 machinery when he got behind the wheel of a 2021 Mercedes car at Austria’s Red Bull Ring in April, before getting a run in the 2022 challenger at Imola ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.

Allison has previously spoken positively about how Antonelli performed during his first test outings with the Silver Arrows, and followed this up by telling the Beyond The Grid podcast that he is hopeful for how the teenager can continue to develop his skills going forwards.

“I can't ignore the fact that he's in the 2022 car, running tests in the car to get himself familiarised with it, and he's pretty bloody good,” Allison explained to host Tom Clarkson.

“It’s a nice background feeling for me as I worry about the here and now, which is making the car work, to think that we've got this burgeoning young talent who is gathering his strength, and who’s headed our way at some point.”

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Antonelli’s name has frequently been linked with Lewis Hamilton’s soon-to-be vacant seat at Mercedes in 2025. Reflecting on whether the rookie is ready for the step up to F1, Allison drew comparison with Antonelli’s F2 team mate Oliver Bearman, who impressed many with his stand-in performance for an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“It is a huge ask but I think if the talent is there, it won’t matter,” Allison commented. “When Lewis was first put in a Formula 1 car, I think a lot of people would have said that's a huge ask straight from GP2.

“Whenever a rookie comes into Formula 1, that is a huge ask. Yes, he will be young. Yes, that will put a load of pressures on his young shoulders.

“But if you look at Ollie Bearman's debut in Saudi, that is a difficult circuit. He was in that car last minute and look at the way he performed, the maturity with which he performed.

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“If the driver has the temperament and the skill, they will step up to that ask and all things point towards Kimi having those things. So huge ask, but if the talent's there, he will answer it in a way that will make everyone go ‘blimey!’”