Nico Rosberg claims Mercedes prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a ‘Max Verstappen-level’ F1 talent

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been soaring headlines in F1 due to his tempting candidature for Mercedes.

Nico Rosberg claims Mercedes prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a ‘Max Verstappen-level’ F1 talent

Nico Rosberg(L) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli(R), via IMAGO

Mercedes were caught off-guard after Lewis Hamilton announced his exit from the team past the 2024 season. The German marque was left in a dilemma as they had to choose between their junior driver Kimi Antonelli or Carlos Sainz. Witnessing the Italian’s surge in the junior categories, 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg claimed that the 17-year-old was a Max Verstappen-level talent.

Kimi Antonelli made huge strides during his junior racing career. The Mercedes junior won multiple championships as a debutant and was promoted to F2 without driving a single season in F3. Antonelli had eyes turned its way when Lewis Hamilton decided to move to Maranello and end his tenure at Brackley. This supposedly made him the lead candidate for a move to F1 with a top manufacturer like Mercedes.

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On the other hand, Nico Rosberg explained his interaction with Antonelli and how he saw a glimpse of Max Verstappen in him.

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Kimi Antonelli raced on my go-kart team when he was a little kid. He is a phenomenal, Max Verstappen-level talent. It's really unbelievable
Nico Rosberg said in an interview as quoted by Formula.hu

The former world champion further added:

There is George Russell as the leader of Mercedes, I would bring in Antonelli and accept the mistakes he will make at the beginning. In F2 you also need a good car, he doesn't have that right now, so he's wasting his time a bit. It would help a lot if he could join Williams, show what he's capable of and build his confidence a bit before signing for Mercedes.
Nico Rosberg via the same interview

The Dutchman made his debut in F1 at the age of 17. Similarly, the Italian’s career trajectory majorly coincides with Verstappen’s, and they have showcased similar levels of dominance during races. This urged the Mercedes’ former world champion to assert that the 17-year-old was a Verstappen-level talent.

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli breaks silence on calm demeanor amidst Mercedes rumors

When drivers are rumored to moving to a top manufacturer, they often find themselves anxious as their careers are on the line. However, this immense pressure does not affect the F2 championship contender as he recently admitted he is not afraid of being judged.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (via IMAGO)

On a similar note, he explained his calm attitude within the paddock.

I am quite calm, if the opportunity presented itself to me I would take it with eagerness and try to make the most of it. Recently, there has been some pressure on me with all the rumours about next year, but I have always tried to enjoy it. I'm enjoying the opportunities I have.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli via Motorsport.com

The 17-year-old confessed that he would grab every opportunity that would be presented in front of him. Despite the pressure of speculation, he clarified that he has been enjoying his time in the F2 championship.

Apart from this, Antonelli currently stands seventh in the F2 driver’s standings. He is 78 points away from the lead and would like to mount a challenge for the top spot.

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