Eddie Jordan believes Mercedes is wrong to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli to a top seat for the 2025 season, insisting the young gun should have been placed in a midfield team before joining the Brackely squad.
Antonelli, who was announced as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes driver during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, will partner with George Russell next year, making his debut in Formula 1 at just 18 years old.
However, Jordan isn’t sure that the timing is right for the young Italian and fears that the pressure of driving for a top team like Mercedes will be too much for the teenage Grand Prix driver.
Speaking with David Coulthard on the latest episode of the Formula for Success podcast, the former F1 team owner voiced his concerns about Antonelli’s readiness for the spotlight of a leading team like Mercedes.
“We always said that I thought the pressure of Mercedes would be too much for Kimi and his debut, and his first run, and it turned out, that’s the way it was,” commented Jordan.
“He spun out, it caused a lot of damage to the car. I still believe that there’s a place for Kimi but not in Mercedes - that’s the point I’m trying to make. I don’t care how quick he is.”
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Rather than placing Antonelli in a Mercedes seat, Jordan believes the young charger should first gain experience in a midfield team, where the pressure would be less intense, and he could develop without the weight of championship expectations.
“He should be placed somewhere which will give Toto and the team to learn for the year and come up that way. That’s my view on it.”
Coulthard pointed to Max Verstappen’s entry into F1 in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior outfit, as an example Mercedes should have followed.
The Dutchman, who was just 17 at the time, honed his skills before being promoted to Red Bull. This step-by-step approach allowed Verstappen to learn the ropes in a less pressured environment before becoming a World Champion.
“That’s exactly what should happen,” Jordan said. “Max was in Toro Rosso. Kimi Antonelli, he should be in Williams or somewhere else where Toto can place him. It’s what we’ve been saying for ages.
“Remember what Bernie Ecclestone always used to say when you go looking for money or you go looking for anything you like. He says ‘earn the right’ that’s all he’d say. ‘Earn the right to ask’.
“At the moment, I don’t see how Antonelli has earned the right, not yet. Doesn’t give me that factor of total belief. I am sorry guys.”
Mercedes had reportedly considered more experienced drivers, such as Carlos Sainz, and even waited to hear about Max Verstappen’s future before settling on Antonelli.
However, Jordan remains firm in his stance that a direct promotion to Mercedes could be too much, too soon for the young Italian driver.
While Mercedes is known for taking bold risks, Jordan's comments highlight the potential pitfalls of placing an unproven talent in such a high-pressure environment.
Whether Antonelli can handle the expectations remains to be seen, but according to Jordan, a more measured approach might have been wiser.
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