Concerns over Antonelli’s readiness: Montoya hears worrying rumours about Mercedes’ young star – The 2025 Formula One season marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. With the departure of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take the reins as George Russell’s new teammate.
While the young Italian has long been touted as a rising star, his sudden promotion to a top team has raised eyebrows. Now former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has added fuel to the fire, claiming to have heard disturbing reports about Antonelli’s performance in testing.
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Mercedes have been tight-lipped about their early preparations for 2025, revealing little about Antonelli’s early test runs. However, it is known that the Italian got behind the wheel of the 2020-spec Silver Arrow during a private test session in Jerez in mid-January. Officially, there has been no detailed breakdown of his performance, with only team principal Toto Wolff and key personnel privy to the exact data.
Despite the secrecy, Montoya suggests that whispers from within the paddock paint a worrying picture of the young rider’s early outings. In an interview with Colombian outlet *AS*, the former Grand Prix winner did not mince his words.
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Montoya’s concerns: “Crash Kid in the making?”
According to Montoya, Antonelli’s first few days in the car have been anything but smooth. “The rumours I’ve heard are that he crashed a lot in the tests and caused a lot of damage. He caused a lot of damage because he wants to go too fast,” he remarked.
While test incidents are not uncommon, especially for a rookie adapting to a new level of machinery, the suggestion that Antonelli is pushing too hard too soon could be a red flag.
Given Mercedes’ historically high standards and recent struggles to regain dominance, patience will be key to turning the teenager into a long-term asset rather than a liability.
Montoya, who has made a name for himself as an aggressive and fearless driver, knows first-hand how brutal the transition from junior categories to F1 can be. He believes Antonelli will face an uphill battle in 2025.
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Facing a tough challenge against Russell
One of the biggest hurdles for Antonelli will be his team-mate George Russell. The Briton has consolidated his position within Mercedes and, crucially, has had a direct hand in the development of the car. Montoya warns that this will only make Antonelli’s job more difficult.
“Suddenly he is up against a driver who is better than anyone he has ever raced against. The car is built exactly the way George wants it and he [Antonelli] will have a tough time,” said Montoya.
Mercedes have invested heavily in Russell as their long-term lead driver following Hamilton’s departure. This means that Antonelli is likely to start the season with a bike more suited to Russell’s preferences, forcing him to adapt rather than dictate the direction of the set-up.
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Defining success: What should Antonelli aim for?
Antonelli’s debut season will be closely scrutinised, with expectations ranging from cautious optimism to outright scepticism. Montoya believes that the key to the young Italian’s success will lie in his approach.
“If he has the mentality to stay behind George and learn from him, and then finish ahead of him in ten races, it will be a good year,” explained Montoya.
“But if he comes out and wants to dominate George, he might lose his head and it will be complicated for him.”
The warning is clear: if Antonelli tries to make an immediate statement by overshadowing Russell, he could find himself in a downward spiral of mistakes and frustration. Instead, a measured approach – learning the ropes, building confidence and slowly working towards consistent performances – may be the wiser course.
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A steep learning curve ahead
There is no denying Antonelli’s talent. His rapid rise through the junior ranks, skipping Formula 2 altogether, is testament to the faith Mercedes have in him. However, Formula 1 is a different beast and raw talent alone is rarely enough to succeed at the highest level.
Many young drivers have struggled under the weight of a premature F1 debut – whether it was too much pressure, lack of experience or being thrown in at the deep end against seasoned rivals. Antonelli will need to navigate these challenges carefully to avoid becoming the latest example of a rushed prospect who never reaches his full potential.
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A risk worth taking?
Mercedes’ decision to promote Antonelli with no previous F2 experience is a bold move that could prove to be either a masterstroke or a miscalculation. If Montoya’s rumours are true, we can expect some early growing pains. But much will depend on Antonelli’s ability to bounce back from setbacks, integrate into the team and deal with the inevitable media and fan scrutiny.
The real test will come when the lights go out for the first race of the 2025 season. Until then, speculation will continue to swirl around the young Italian’s ability to rise to the immense challenge ahead. Whether he thrives or falters, one thing is certain – his every move will be watched with keen interest.
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JPM can say whatever he wants, but ultimately, he doesn’t speak for the team, so his words barely have any relevance.
I’m sure Antonelli will be given ample time to improve as a driver due to his circumstances, i.e., limited overall single-seater experience & consequently limited readiness to compete in F1 yet.
Btw, he drove a W12 in that Jerez test last month because literally no 2020 car exists or has existed since 2021 due to every single one getting turned into 2021-spec cars.