Andrea Kimi Antonelli has seamlessly settled into his role with Mercedes, stepping into Lewis Hamilton’s shoes after Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari. According to Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director at Mercedes, the young rookie is not only fitting in brilliantly but is also showing great promise for the future. In what marks the team’s first venture with a rookie since 2010, Antonelli’s promotion from Formula 2 at just 18 years old, due to Hamilton’s move, has already begun to pay dividends. Two solid top-six finishes in his opening races have clearly shown Mercedes that they made the right decision, with Shovlin noting the team’s enthusiasm in helping the young talent realize his potential.
Shovlin expressed, “He complements the team perfectly. Filling the shoes of someone as accomplished as Lewis is no easy task. Still, Kimi is in the nascent stages of his Formula 1 journey. Fortunately, he’s paired with an extremely seasoned race engineer, Bono [Peter Bonnington]. This partnership is instrumental in guiding him through the intricacies of race weekends—helping him build speed and fine-tune the car setup.”
The environment at Mercedes is abuzz with anticipation about working with Antonelli, as Shovlin mentioned. “He is soaking it all in and enjoying it thoroughly. At his first race in Melbourne, the reality of starting on an F1 grid was almost unbelievable for him, especially in wet conditions. But he’s getting the hang of it, and I firmly believe there’s much more to come from Kimi.”
Antonelli isn’t the only bright spot for Mercedes—George Russell has already secured two podiums in the opening rounds. Shovlin believes the team is on the right track. “Our car has shown its versatility across a variety of circuits,” he remarked. “However, it’s evident that McLaren is the team to chase, with Max Verstappen also showcasing impressive speed. Ferrari isn’t far off either, albeit they’ve been slightly unlucky. The battle at the front is shaping up to be intense.”
Mercedes is committed to enhancing their car’s performance, aiming to close the gap with McLaren. Shovlin added, “We’re looking at three very distinctive circuits next: Suzuka, a driver-favorite with its fast, flowing nature; Bahrain, which we know well from testing, presenting its own set of challenges; and Saudi Arabia, a street track with its fresh, smooth tarmac. Each has its unique demands.”
By the time five races are under their belt, Shovlin believes they’ll have a clearer picture of the competitive landscape. “It’s thrilling to kick off the season with a car that works well and drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel. With predictability on our side, we’re eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.”
