Mercedes has been warned by Nico Rosberg not to support Andrea Kimi Antonelli in an attempt to unseat Lewis Hamilton too soon.
One of the most likely possibilities to replace Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 is teenage beauty queen Antonelli.
With Hamilton departing for Ferrari, a highly sought-after position becomes available, forcing Toto Wolff to make a significant choice.
However, Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes colleague, believes Wolff ought to postpone his call.
“Antonelli is definitely a superstar of the future. But, unfortunately, timing-wise it is too early for him.” Rosberg told Sky Sports.
“And too early for Toto. He needs to wait until somewhat later in the year, as we see how Antonelli does in Formula 2.
“He needs a strong season in Formula 2 to even make it a possibility of going straight to Mercedes.
“Otherwise, if anything, some time at Williams would make sense.”
Antonelli’s participation in a private test of a 2021 Mercedes W12 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this week intensified indications that he is being given serious consideration for a jump into Formula One next season.
Later this year, the 17-year-old is scheduled to operate the 2022 vehicle.
Mercedes may be trying to avoid repeating their error of passing up on a teenage Max Verstappen, as seen by their interest in Antonelli.
Fernando Alonso signed a new contract with Aston Martin, meaning he is no longer available.
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have pledged to Ferrari and McLaren, respectively.
Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, although Sainz is still available.
“You can look at it from various perspectives,” stated Wolff.
“I believe that we are in a rebuild phase. You need to acknowledge that now three years into these regulations, we have got to do things differently than we’ve done in the past without throwing overboard what we believe is goodness in the way we operate.
“It could mean putting a young driver in there and giving him an opportunity with less pressure than fighting for victories immediately, or putting a more experienced driver in the car that can help us dig ourselves out of the current performance picture.”
