Mercedes banking on 'Kimi' for the future

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There has only ever been one driver named 'Kimi' in Formula 1, but the forename could perhaps enjoy another spell of success in Grand Prix racing, thanks to Mercedes.

The German manufacturer is supporting the burgeoning talent of 14-year-old Italian karter Andrea 'Kimi' Antonelli who was crowned last weekend at Wackersdorf in Germany the FIA European Karting Champion.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is personally tracking the teen's progress, and Gwen Lagrue, the man who looks after Mercedes' juniors, has also been impressed by what he's seen so far from Antonelli.

Read also: Hakkinen puts his money on Schumacher for F1 drive

"Kimi is a phenomenon!" said Lagrue. "He is racing for Kart Republic, Dino Chiesa’s team, who previously took care of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg around 20 years ago.

"We were really impressed with him – he’s very mature for his young age, is very patient and extremely clever.

"He’s fast, whatever the conditions are, and I’ve never seen him make a silly mistake.

"The love and passion for motorsport are obvious and he enjoys his racing like I’ve never seen before.

"The way he is racing, overtaking, building his race weekend is very special and we are really looking forward to seeing him move into single-seaters."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.