Antonelli faces a 'steeper studying curve than most of us'

Andrea Kimi Antonelli faces a harder begin to life in Components 1 than most drivers, says Lando Norris.

Mercedes confirmed final month their junior driver will take over the seat Lewis Hamilton is to vacate on the finish of the season. His ascent to F1 has been terribly speedy, having bypassed Components 3 to go straight into Components 2 this yr.

Nevertheless Norris believes Antonelli has demonstrated his potential within the junior collection. “He’s going to be in Components 1 as a result of he’s most likely ok to be there, and Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal] sees quite a bit in him.”

Antonelli, who turned 18 on the finish of final month, lies sixth within the Components 2 standings behind fellow rookies Gabriel Bortoleto, final yr’s F3 champion, and former Mercedes junior Paul Aron. Final yr Antonelli gained three separate championships, together with the Components Regional European collection, and the yr earlier than that he scooped the Italian and German Components 4 crowns.

Like Antonelli, Norris gained a clutch of junior titles

“He’s confirmed himself quite a bit within the junior classes,” Norris acknowledged. “Developing by, I feel it’s a giant leap to go from F4 to F2. [That’s] a giant leap, so it’s not most likely been simple on him, however to go from F2 after which straight to F1, it’s quite a bit.”

Norris’ ascent to F1 was just like Antonelli’s, although he didn’t skip F3. After victory within the MSA Components (now British F4) collection in 2015, he gained three championships together with the Components Renault Eurocup (now Components Regional Europe) the next yr and was European Components 3 champion in 2017. Norris then completed runner-up to George Russell – Antonelli’s 2025 staff mate – in his sole season of F2 earlier than becoming a member of F1 the next yr.

He mentioned Antonelli faces “a steep studying curve, steeper most likely than what most of us have ever had, which at all times comes with stress and issues like that.

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“So long as he copes with that nicely, I’m certain, studying from top-of-the-line right here as his staff mate, he’ll be in control very quickly.”

Norris’ staff mate Oscar Piastri arrived in F1 final yr after profitable championships in three consecutive seasons, then spending a yr as a take a look at driver for Alpine. He mentioned Antonelli “appeared very fast” in his transient outing in first observe at Monza earlier than he crashed. “Clearly his session didn’t final that lengthy, however the laps he did appeared very aggressive.

“He’s been very aggressive within the junior classes as nicely. I do know it’s been a little bit of a harder yr for him in F2, however I feel it’s been a tricky yr by Prema’s commonplace.

“I feel he will certainly be aggressive. Clearly he’s very younger however Mercedes have clearly put him right into a race-winning automotive for a purpose and I’m certain he’ll be an amazing competitor subsequent yr.”