Is Antonelli a candidate at WIlliams? Team boss Vowles responds!

Andrea Kimi Antonelli hasn't had the best start to the Formula 2 season, but he has scored 12 points and is 10th in the standings. Friend and foe alike are convinced that Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli (17) will make his entrance into Formula 1 at some point. Perhaps Oliver Bearman's (18) spectacular debut at Ferrari will be the final push for Mercedes to appoint Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's successor. Or might there be an option for the Italian at Williams, with which Mercedes has close ties?

Mercedes have announced they are taking their time to find a replacement for Hamilton, who has been signed to Ferrari. Max Verstappen is at the top of team boss Toto Wolff's list, but the Dutchman has an ongoing contract with Red Bull Racing. There is a possibility that the three-time champion could leave the Austrians if the current saga continues there.

Williams an alternative for Antonelli?

Should Verstappen come - or Wolff opts for another, more experienced driver - there is, therefore, no place for Antonelli at the German team. In the past, Mercedes loaned George Russell to Williams to gain experience. That could be the scenario for Antonelli, although team boss James Vowles of the British outfit does not want to be upfront about it.

"I have no doubt that Kimi will be in F1," Vowles responded. "He’s done incredibly well in his junior series. But that doesn't mean he will be in Williams, necessarily. I believe in investing in youth. But I'll take people on merit into the organisation. I'm fortunate enough to have two juniors myself, in F2 and in F3."

"We're starting to build a sensible programme to develop the next generation of drivers. He's in a position that you would hope. From my perspective, it's more about looking what happens going forward. I have Alex Albon here next year under contract and I have Logan Sargeant obviously under contract as well, along with juniors. It's just a question of seeing how everything plays out across the next six months."

Vowles recognised Antonelli's quality immediately

Vowles does highlight Antonelli's potential. "When you're looking after a junior who is 11, you have no idea that they are going to be incredible, or perhaps good, great or average. But, with him, you could see early on in the F4 days that he was developing exceptionally well," said the Williams team boss.