Will Buxton On A Key Mercedes Dynamic For The Future

There are many who laud him as the next Lewis Hamilton in the works. Then, there are those who dub him the next Max Verstappen. But whatever it is and whatever one says, the youngster by the name of Kimi Antonelli could well be a part of Formula 1 in the future.

And rather specifically, where the imminent future of Mercedes post 2024 world championship is concerned, this other Kimi could well be a part of its scheme of plans.

No random-speak this; these are the words of a certain Will Buxton who needs little or no introduction. However, what Kimi Antonelli needs to do, as per Will Buxton, in order to perceptibly bag a Mercedes drive in the top tier of F1 racing is to win the FIA F2 world championship in his maiden season.

Whether that is difficult or not so difficult we do not know; but the young lad who hails from Bologna in Italy and is yet to turn 18, certainly seems to have it in him to progress ahead.

Why else, one notes, would someone as respected and interesting as Will Buxton, widely known for his simple, and thoughtful views on the sport, reserve much praise for the youngling from Italy?

Speaking to a leading F1 platform ahead of the start of the winter testing, which is another few days away, the Brit, a popular pundit said the following about the crucial dynamic playing out at Mercedes and how it could involve Kimi:

Mercedes is already looking forward and has already singled out Hamilton’s long-term heir,” Will Buxton was of the view. “A precocious talent marching his way through the junior formulae in a manner potentially even more impressive than Lewis managed two decades ago. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to contest Formula 2 this season having been skipped past Formula 3 by the three pointed star. Should he win the title in 2024, Toto Wolff has already hinted the team might make a “bold” call on its 2025 line-up. 

Having said all of that, it is hardly a surprise that Mercedes are perhaps just as much in shock with regard to the Lewis Hamilton move as are Ferrari themselves; the Maranello force in red will be seeing Lewis in red racing overalls come the 2025 FIA F1 world championship.

And even as the dust has settled on a piece of development that did leave many in shock, there are still some at Mercedes who may well be shaking their heads in disbelief. Interestingly, it is believed that none other than Hamilton’s long-term rival, Fernando Alonso recently exclaimed that it wasn’t that driving for Ferrari was in anyway the Briton’s long-cherished goal.

And yet, this is what has just happened and will remain that way, Samurai.