Mercedes 'risk' highlighted with teenage sensation

Mercedes has been warned it will be taking "a risk" in promoting Kimi Antonelli, although its nurturing of the teenage sensation will at least pave the way to his expected F1 promotion.

Following a stellar junior career under the considerable wing of Mercedes, Antonelli has found himself in the spotlight this season due to constant rumours he will replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next year. 

The 17-year-old has even suggested he may not be ready for F1 as he is still learning the ropes, and making mistakes, in his rookie F2 year which is now starting to build momentum following a difficult start due to issues with the car provided by Prema Racing.

Guenther Steiner knows all about working with untested drivers as the former Haas team boss hired Michael Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin one season, at the end of which he infamously said he would never work with rookies again such was the difficulties.

Speaking as a special guest star in the latest edition of the RacingNews365 podcast, Steiner readily concedes "it's very difficult" working with inexperienced drivers, although feels the likes of Mercedes has an edge.

"Compared to how I took on rookies, it is different than Ferrari, Mercedes or Alpine because they work with them for a long period of time, so they know the personalities," he said.

"When I took them on, I took two guys, which I only got to know maybe three months before, so it's difficult.

"It's not only about the driving skills, it's also about their personality, to learn how they tick,

"Mercedes has the advantage. They know exactly Kimi Antonelli because they've worked with him for so long, and spent so much time with him.

"They already know what they think of him before he gets into the F1 team because he has spent days on the simulator, if not weeks, and months, so they have a good understanding."

Antonelli will be under pressure - Steiner

If Mercedes opted to promote Antonelli, Steiner feels the pressure could prove telling on his young shoulders, particularly as he will fill a void created by the departure of an all-time great.

The Italian feels for any driver, there is more to F1 than simply driving the car.

"All of a sudden, you have all these pressures from left, right and centre," said Steiner. "If big guys like Checo Perez or Danny Ricciardo cannot withstand them, a rookie should suffer more.

"I think they are protected them in the beginning and that gives them a good chance, but it's not an easy thing to make the step as a rookie because there is no substitute for real testing in a real race car. There you get a real feel.

"There's so much data going into a race car, then you can see how good they are. The simulator gives you a good understanding, but it's a simulator. If it goes wrong, you reset and you go again.

"In a racecar, if it goes wrong, you reset in the garage, but it costs a lot of money which you then cannot spend on development because it's within the budget cap.

"It is still a risk. But the big teams have a good idea, and there are good people mentoring them and coaching them, especially Mercedes, I would say."