Liuzzi: Antonelli chance to shine in F1 ‘so important’ for Italy

Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi believes that Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli is an “amazing talent” whose arrival on the grid in 2025 will be a significant milestone for Italy, which has long been waiting for a new star to shine at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Antonelli will take over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes alongside George Russell, and while the 18-year-old will have some massively big shoes to fill, his undeniable talent, determination, and the support of the Brackley squad will provide him the foundation to carve out his own legacy in Formula 1."

Liuzzi, a former Red Bull driver who raced in F1 between 2005 and 2011, has been impressed by his young countryman’s rapid rise through the ranks – from F4 to F2 in just two years.

Despite a recent setback during his debut practice session with Mercedes at the Italian Grand Prix, where he crashed out early on, Liuzzi believes Antonelli has already proven that he possesses the most essential trait of a top driver: raw speed.

“Kimi showed really strong performance since [his] karting time,” Liuzzi told F1.com. “I think he’s an amazing talent.

“What happened [in FP1 at Monza] can happen to anybody when they reach F1. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of stress, but he deserves this seat, he deserves an F1 position. I think he’s going to have a shining future.

“I’m happy that Mr. [Toto] Wolff gave him a chance and he’s in a really great environment. I’m really looking forward to 2025 and to see how he will perform.”

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Liuzzi is also excited about the environment Antonelli is stepping into. With Russell as his teammate, Antonelli will be able to learn from another driver who came up through Mercedes' junior ranks.

This dynamic, he believes, will help Antonelli adapt quickly to the intense competition at the front of the grid.

“Russell is a really amazing team mate as a benchmark,” he continued. “Kimi can learn from George and take a lot of information [on board].

“I think he will be quickly up to speed and he can be a really good team player.

“It won’t be easy, because obviously you start with a lot of pressure in a team like Mercedes, one of the top teams in the field, but I think if he’s smart enough to play well his cards, as I said before, he will have a really bright future.

“The speed is there, and that you cannot buy, so that’s the most important thing.”

Antonelli’s arrival on the grid will also mark the return of an Italian driver to F1, something the country has not seen since Antonio Giovinazzi last raced in 2021.

Liuzzi, along with fellow Italian drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli, was one of the last representatives of Italy’s strong motorsport heritage in Grand Prix racing.

The significance of Antonelli’s presence is not lost on Liuzzi, who highlights how important it is for Italy to have a driver back in the sport.

“We missed an Italian on the F1 grid – it’s so important,” said Liuzzi, who left F1 with 80 race starts and 26 championship points under his belt.

“Italy is such a historic country for motorsport. Apart from the Grand Prix, we have historic brands, great brands, so it’s important to keep the passion of the people high.

“It’s amazing that we have this opportunity [with] an Italian back on the grid, and I think he will have a lot of support from Italy, because there is a lot of passion about F1 [in the country].”

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