The relationship between Mercedes and the Williams Formula One team has shifted since the arrival of James Vowles as team principal at Grove. Whilst they remain a customer for the German brand’s power unit, they will no longer act as a ‘nursery’ for Mercedes academy drivers.
Vowles has a vision to drive Williams forward and this direction was confirmed with the recruitment of Carlos Sainz for a full time seat from 2025 onwards. The shift in relationship between the teams has created a headache for Mercedes who ideally would like to place their star academy driver, Kimi Antonelli, with Williams as they did with George Russell.
That option is no longer there for next season and while Toto Wolff recently maintained Antonelli was their “first priority” getting some time behind the wheel of an F1 car would benefit both the driver and the team in establishing his current capabilities.
Antonelli F2 team uncompatative
Antonelli had only ever competed in European regional competition before being thrust into the limelight as a rookie into F2 this season. He is currently down in P7 in the championship despite a Sprint race win along with the feature race victory in Hungary.
The Prema team where Antonelli is racing are not having the best time of it this year in F2 and the Italian drivers’ team mate Oliver Bearman is languishing down in fifteenth place. Bearman has signed for Haas F1 for next season due to his stunning debut for Ferrari as a replacement for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia.
Whilst Williams have no room at the inn for Antonelli next year, James Vowles has been careful with his words when discussing the future of current driver Logan Sargeant. “He has to keep earning his seat,” said the Williams team boss in Belgium which has sparked speculation that the American may be disc he’d and Antonelli given the remaining races this year.
Nico Rosberg argues this would be the best move for both Williams and Antonelli, giving him the opportunity to “build confidence” ahead of his Mercedes move.
Rosberg backs Williams driver switch
“Yeah I mean, at the moment, it’s really not helping anybody,” said Sky F1 pundit Rosberg referring to the hapless Sargeant and Antonelli’s prospects.
“Because I think Antonelli just doesn’t have the car to show what he’s capable of in Formula 2. And we know that sometimes that is the case in the lower categories. So you need to get yourself there too in the good cars and so it’s a bit of a waste at the moment.
“So certainly it would be helpful if the move to something like Williams would be possible for him to really show what he’s capable of and also start building his confidence towards the possible move to Mercedes.”
Rosberg’s observation is borne out by Oliver Bearman’s case who on this season’s F2 results alone would be highly unlikely to be offered an F1 drive. He believes Antonelli is a talent similar to the young Max Verstappen from experience of watching him race in Rosberg’s pro-karting team.
Brundle tells Mercedes to ‘bite the bullet’
“Kimi Antonelli raced in my go-karting team when he was a little kid,” said Rosberg. “He’s phenomenal. I mean, he’s like Max Verstappen-level. It’s really unbelievable.”
Of course Mercedes have created a problem for themselves in recent F1 weekends, winning three of the last four races before the summer break. The question Toto Wolff now must consider is whether his team can produce a car in 2025 capable of challenging for race victories and titles and if so how does a rookie really fit into this scenario.
Despite this Martin Brundle argues Mercedes should just bite the bullet and put Antonelli into Lewis Hamilton’s car next year, but admits he will be making mistakes a more experienced driver would not.
“As I’ve got George Russell who can lead the team, I would bring Antonelli along and just put up with the mistakes he’ll make in the beginning,” said Brundle.
Steiner calls time on Verstappen dominance
Vowles fails to rule out Antonelli
For those who believe the mid-season driver switch at Williams is on the cars, they will point to comments made by team boss James Vowles in Spa Francorchamps. When asked whether Antonelli had a chance of a drive for Williams, Vowles was open about a private matter between himself and Toto Wolff.
“It was interesting. I’ll talk to you about something that’s very private, but I hope that Toto doesn’t mind,” said Vowles. “We were messaging yesterday during the F2 race and for me what Kimi did is bloody impressive.
“It was against [Franco] Colapinto, our own driver here. He went up the inside and he didn’t lift and for all of you that have at least been in a racing car, you know how tough that move was. That, in the wet, is not just brave, that takes a hell of a lot of skill and he had snaps at the top of Eau Rouge. That’s impressive.
“He’s a good kid. But he’s 17. And answering your question, I’ll be proud of whatever he achieves because I was part of his journey all the way up until the last few years, but I’m not sure that’s going to overlap with Williams.”
Vowles failing to rule out a move to Williams will only increase speculation of the post-summer break switch and with the team commercial director claiming to Bloomberg, the partner roster is now full, the finance brought by the American is less of a concern than wild have been in recent times.
Newey manager updates next move
Mercedes top brass last ditch effort to lure Verstappe
With just three seats remaining confirmation for 2025, the Formula One driver market is winding down as the teams enjoy their summer break. Carlos Sainz deciding on Williams from 2025 has freed up Sauber/Audi to pursue an alternative choice.
Yesterday TJ13 reported a surprise new name on the Swiss based team’s wish list as rookie Gabriel Bortoleto is now reportedly ‘a possible teammate’ for Hulkenberg after impressing in F2. Bortoleto is currently second in the championship behind Red Bulls junior Issac Hadjar.
Yet Valtteri Bottas remains the favourite to see Suaber through the transition to Audi. Alpine are considering Mick Schumacher and Mick Doohan as replacements for Esteban Ocon who is on his way Haas F1. Which leaves Mercedes who most paddock observers believe will promote their academy driver Kimi Antonelli, yet top brass within the team will make a last ditch effort to persuade Max Verstappen to join their ranks… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Nothing will change during the season as long as James Vowles doesn’t say otherwise, so pointless speculation over & over again.
Merely not ruling out something isn’t the same by definition as not intending or planning, so just because one doesn’t rule out a given action as a possibility doesn’t mean that action will happen.