Kimi Antonelli began the 2024 season with tremendous pressure. Few drivers at just 17 years old were carrying the expectation of proving themselves as F1-calibre. Although this has not been the smoothest year for the Italian, he delivered a masterclass in today’s F2 Silverstone Sprint. With Mercedes and Toto Wolff closely watching, this result is hugely significant.
On paper, Formula 2 is a spec series – meaning all cars are equal. However, this does not mean teams always optimise their set-up and machinery.
Unusually,, it seems fair to say that Prema have performed poorly. Despite historically being front-runners in Formula 2, the Italian team is nowhere near Championship contention.
The first warning signs emerged in Bahrain when Antonelli and Bearman qualified 17th and 18th. Even the biggest Antonelli sceptics (especially with Bearman as a reference in the same machinery) could see these positions were hardly representative.
Still, Antonelli can be credited with a reasonable season since then. If it weren’t for the obvious Mercedes links, there would be few criticisms for a driver sitting 8th in the F2 standings in their rookie season.
Kimi Antonelli secures a timely win
Of course, the Mercedes links cannot be ignored. The possibility of a seat at the Silver Arrows in 2025, whilst an obvious opportunity, also means that Antonelli is expected to deliver and justify the hype.
He did this in today’s Silverstone Sprint Race, creating just over an 8-second gap to his closest rival. He achieved this in just 10 laps, with a red flag and several VSCs minimising his advantage across the line.
To perform in such a dominant fashion in wet conditions is a huge endorsement of his skill. Speaking after Antonelli’s victory, Toto Wolff gave a glowing review:
“I liked his control of the race. Kimi went 1 second faster [per lap] than the second-place finisher with a dominant race.
“F1 is a big step, but he can do it.”
Antonelli’s victory today is also hugely significant in the context of the driver market. Toto Wolff continues to repeat his optimism about convincing Max Verstappen to join the team, whilst other wild cards are being mentioned as options for the Brackley team.
To be clear, Antonelli is still seen as Mercedes’ future, as he has been for some time. Wolff has kept many established drivers in the dark to prioritise the team’s focus on the 17-year-old’s progression.
Still, the timing of this victory could hardly be better. With James Vowles casting doubt on Logan Sargeant’s Williams future, there could be important changes in the coming weeks.
The Mercedes prodigy is building momentum at a critical juncture for the decision-makers that could define his future.