The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf writes, based on sources at Mercedes, that the team has decided to sign a contract with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes analyzed all options during the summer break and concluded that it was not possible to sign a contract with Max Verstappen, which would mean that Antonelli, who turns 18 this Sunday, will become George Russell’s partner in 2025.
However, Mercedes is not giving up hope of bringing in Verstappen in the longer term, but before 2029, when the driver’s contract with Red Bull Racing expires.
According to De Telegraaf, Max’s contract contains a clause regarding the possibility of early termination if the team’s results remain below a certain level and Mercedes expects to be in a better position in 2026 after the regulation change.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
