Mercedes Facing Major Kimi Antonelli Reality C… read more
Mercedes may not yet be back to their dominant pre-2021 form, but recent results have hinted at a resurgence. After years of struggling to match Red Bull’s supremacy since Max Verstappen dethroned Lewis Hamilton in 2021, the Silver Arrows now appear to be heading in the right direction. Their latest performance at the Canadian Grand Prix marked a genuine high point: George Russell claimed a commanding victory from pole, and 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli clinched his maiden Formula 1 podium with a third-place finish. The double podium lifted Mercedes to second in the constructors’ championship, 16 points ahead of Ferrari—a remarkable turnaround considering the major shakeups in their driver lineup.
This season was always going to be a gamble for Toto Wolff and Mercedes. Losing a seven-time world champion like Hamilton to Ferrari left a massive void, one they opted to fill with Antonelli, an Italian teenager with no grand prix experience. The decision raised eyebrows across the paddock, but within Mercedes, faith in Antonelli was unwavering. Touted as a generational talent, comparisons have already been made between the young Italian and past greats who burst onto the F1 scene with instant impact.
So far, though, the on-track reality hasn’t quite matched the off-track hype. While Antonelli’s first F1 podium was rightly celebrated, deeper scrutiny of his performances reveals a different picture. Across the opening 10 races—and two sprint events—he has not outperformed George Russell once. In fact, Russell, who sits on 136 points, has more than double Antonelli’s tally. That’s a big gap. Despite the glowing praise from pundits and fans alike, there’s a sense that Antonelli is benefitting from a narrative that paints him as the next Verstappen or Hamilton without the results to support it—at least, not yet.
And that’s the key point: talent needs to translate into tangible results. Hamilton, for example, went toe-to-toe with reigning world champion Fernando Alonso in his very first race. Verstappen became F1’s youngest race winner within months of his debut. These were true wonderkids, and their greatness was evident from the outset. Antonelli, in contrast, is doing a solid job but hasn’t yet produced a standout performance to justify the “next superstar” label. Even Lance Stroll, often criticised throughout his career, picked up a podium in his debut season. Antonelli’s Montreal podium was certainly promising, but not unprecedented.
This isn’t to say Antonelli is failing—far from it. For an 18-year-old in his rookie season, he is performing respectably, especially under the enormous pressure of driving for a team like Mercedes. His composure and maturity have drawn deserved praise. But he is not exceeding expectations; rather, he’s just about meeting them. And that presents Mercedes with a potential headache. If Antonelli doesn’t make a performance leap in the second half of the season, their bold decision to back him over more experienced alternatives could come under renewed scrutiny.
Mercedes believe in Antonelli’s long-term potential, and perhaps with good reason. The team has watched him grow through the junior ranks and clearly sees qualities worth investing in. However, F1 is a results-driven sport, and sentiment only lasts so long. If Antonelli is to silence critics and truly earn the “generational” badge, he must start beating Russell—or at least competing closely with him—on a regular basis. That’s the next step.
For now, Mercedes are enjoying a return to form, but a reality check might be looming. Antonelli’s ceiling could be sky-high, but it’s time to stop talking about potential and start seeing the performances to match. The ball is firmly in Kimi’s court—and if he’s as special as some claim, we won’t have to wait long to see it.
