Kimi Antonelli “pressure” question posed: “The rookie with the most eyes on him”
How will Kimi Antonelli fare in his rookie season? Karun Chandhok gives his view.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok expects Andrea Kimi Antonelli to be “very quick in qualifying” during his rookie campaign with Mercedes but questions whether he can handle the pressure of racing for a top team.
Mercedes opted to promote Antonelli in place of Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming 2025 F1 season.
Toto Wolff overlooked signing Carlos Sainz and other experienced options, handing Antonelli his F1 debut at just 18 years old.
While Antonelli has been given extensive time in an F1 car through Mercedes’ testing programme, he has limited single-seater experience, having been fast-tracked through the junior categories.
Antonelli is the first rookie to be thrown into a top team since Lewis Hamilton in 2007.
Giving his thoughts on Antonelli via Sky Sports F1’s website, Chandhok said: “I think Antonelli comes into the season as the rookie with the most eyes on him. He’s in a top seat, he’s taken over a seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes have chosen to not have Carlos Sainz and promote him up after one season of F2, so it’s a big, big task for him.
“He’s very, very talented, there’s no doubt about it, in terms of pure natural talent. I’ve seen him in junior categories, I've spoken to people who worked with him, and they all rate him very highly.
“Being in an F1 environment with the pressure of being in a top team is something different to being in the lower categories when you can kind of go under the radar. Now he’s going to have people like me in the commentary box analysing every lap he does, and suddenly the pressure to deliver is much higher.”
Chandhok makes Piastri comparison
Oscar Piastri impressed during his rookie F1 season with the team, particularly with his qualifying pace.
Chandhok expects Antonelli to impress over one lap, but he might struggle more in races.
“I think he’s going to be very, very quick in qualifying, but as Oscar Piastri has shown us recently, the bigger challenge these days for rookies is perhaps in the races with the long runs,” Chandhok added.
“Mercedes have done a great deal of work to prepare him, he’s going to be the best-prepared rookie coming into F1 for a very long time, so he’s got a great opportunity to shine.”
Antonelli will get his first chance to drive Mercedes' 2025 challenger - the W16 - when pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain.
Mercedes are set to unveil their new car on February 24.
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