The question was posed by an F1 journalist, following the decision by Mercedes team principal to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with an unconvincing rookie.
Leo Turrini has a lot of faith in his young compatriot, but he also drew attention to an interesting observation:
“Since Giancarlo Fisichella has raced for Renault, we have not had an Italian driver with a chance of winning. That is why I consider it a great achievement that Kimi Antonelli can be on the grid with Mercedes in 2025. Let’s not forget that Mercedes won four races in 2024. I think they can rightly be considered one of the favourites this season! However, it should not be underestimated that this puts even more pressure on Antonelli. He is a very young driver, with zero experience, who should immediately replace the legendary Lewis Hamilton. Is it madness or genius? Only time will tell…
I think Antonelli is an extraordinary talent, despite having skipped F3 completely and having only a little experience from F2. However, everyone I spoke to confirmed: he is a talent who deserves a place on the F1 grid. The rest is up to Mercedes. Will they give him enough time? Is Toto Wolff a real madman or a genius of the caliber of an era? Or does he need Kimi Antonelli only until Max Verstappen is free?” - asked the big questions Turrini.
Photo: Gp Fans / XPB Images
