Mercedes Formula One driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has broken his silence amid rumors of Max Verstappen’s potential switch from Red Bull to Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli is reported to have signed a one-year deal with the Brackley-based outfit, which is set to expire at the end of this year.
George Russell’s claim about his contract extension being on hold due to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s ongoing talks with Verstappen triggered speculation about the possibility of Verstappen moving to Mercedes. Russell’s contract is also set to expire at the end of 2025.
While Wolff admitted that Russell and Kimi Antonelli would fill both seats at Mercedes next year, he didn’t shy away from saying that he would keep tabs on Verstappen to potentially sign him in the future.
Verstappen pledged his loyalty to Red Bull a few weeks ago, stressing that he wasn’t switching teams. However, the sudden ousting of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on Wednesday might have changed the situation.
It is thought that Verstappen and Wolff met off the coast of Sardinia this week to hold further discussions, adding fuel to the speculation. Kimi Antonelli, who made his F1 debut in Australia this year, admitted that “there is a lot going on,” but stressed that he would continue focusing on his performance. When asked if he received assurances from Mercedes about racing next year, he said:
“I mean, obviously, there is a lot going on. But I am sure the team is doing their best to provide for the future as well, because they’re obviously not just looking at next year, but also looking for the future as well.
“There are a lot of talks going on, but my goal is just to try and do my best, no matter what.”
Kimi Antonelli went on to confirm that he wasn’t holding talks with any other team.
Predicting a rough road for Red Bull, given Horner’s exit and ongoing challenges with the RB21 F1 car, former FIA steward Johnny Herbert said Mercedes would likely be Verstappen’s preference. He said:
“It sounds very much so, that the Mercedes thing is where he’s probably going to end up. So, it’s probably not a surprise everything with Christian anyway.”
Hinting at key Red Bull exits since mid-2024, he added:
“Now, it’s going to be a really difficult period for them [Red Bull], because obviously, with all the changes, with Jonathan [Wheatley] and Adrian [Newey] and a few other people, and of course, with Christian as well.
“It’s in a very precarious position at the moment, because, like anything in Formula 1, you’ve got to be able to have the right ingredients, which includes personnel, direction, and that’s all been slowly, sort of eroded away.
“And then you’ve got the performances on the track at the end of the day, and a probably not so happy Max, definitely not a happy Jos, but it’s probably not a happy Max.
“Because Max, as you know, wants to be in a situation of winning races and a world championship, and that sort of, again, slowly, sort of eroded away over the last, what, year and a half, I guess.”
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