1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Mercedes fast-tracking 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Andrea Kimi Antonelli into a full-time🐬 seat is “too much too soon” af⛎ter a “terrible” season in F2.

Toto Wolff opted for Antonelli over signing 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Carlos Sainz when deciding on their replacement for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli has just two seasons of single-seater racing under his belt ahead of his first F1 race th🌟is weekend at the Australian Grand Prix.

At just 18, he’s the youngest driver on the 2025 F1 grid.൩ 

Hew could break 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen’s record of b𝓡eing the sport’s youngest-ever winner if he’s victorious in any of the opening three races.

Speaking to , Villeneuve explained why Antonelli’s deb⛄ut has co🍬me too early.

“It’s too much too soon,” he said. “Kimi Antonelli had a terrible season in Formula 2. Is it because he was already signed for F1 and th🔜e pressure got the better of him, who knows?

“Or maybe because he didn’t like that kind of car and maybe it’s better for him to be in a Formula One car. These are all question marks that we w🌊ill find out very quickly, very soon.

“He seems to be capable of taking risks and pushing the car, but then feeling where that edge is, we don’t know yet. Or how does he work on a full season de🌟veloping and evolving the car?

“How will the balance be between him and Russell? Will they work hand in hand with similar driving styles or completely opposite driving styles which then makes it difficult for the team to evolve the car in dir🏅ection that pleases both drivers.

“The juꦉry is out on Antonelli but so many people in the media want him to be amazing. I hope he is because if not, it will be a very heavy load to carry for him. A lot of pressure on his shoulders.”

Toto Wolff’s thought process ‘skewed’

Antonelli has been part of the Mercedes junior programme since 201𒁃8.

Mercedes view the Italian as their ꧟own Verstappen-like talent.

Wolff was left to regre🍷t being unable to give Verstappen🃏 a full-time drive in F1, which meant he ultimately joined the Red Bull stable.

Villeneuve feels that Wolff’s long relationship with Antonelli has “skewered” his thought pr🌄ocess.

“They’ve taken a risk and gambled based on something that they were deeply wanting, more than based on results from lasꦐt year and so on,” he added.

“They’ve made the decision and they will make sure that that deci꧙🤡sion will work out.

“It’s more they’ve de🌺cided what the outcome should be so they will try to make sure that this outcome happens. Toto took Antonelli on when he was 12 when they started financing his go-kart career.

“It’s a long relationship that started then and when you take under your wing a 12-year-old, it’s like a 🤡father and son relationship. That kind of builds up a little bit. And if that happens then t💮he thought process is a little bit skewered.

“You want it t🎃o happen, so I don’t know. He’s definitely been competitive and super quick in every category except for Formula 2 so that’s something we will have to find out

“They’ve been heavily invested financially in him for so many years too. It’s hard to come to the point whe𝓡re you think maybe he’s not good enough. No, hold on. We’ve invested so much into this that he ♍will be good.”