Marko claims Mercedes already have their next Kimi Antonelli in-house

After a year of ups and downs, the Silver Arrows team boss appears to have finally won his gamble on Antonelli, who was thrown into Formula 1 at a very young age straight with Mercedes, with the start of this season now showing that the risk is paying off. The young Italian driver has claimed two wins from the first three races of the 2026 season, taking the lead of the championship in Suzuka and becoming the youngest driver in history to head the Formula 1 standings.

Speaking to OE24 Marko said he immediately recognised Antonelli’s raw speed, explaining that while inconsistency had previously held him back, that aspect has now improved to the point where he believes the Italian can fight for the world championship. He also pointed out that Wolff may already have another ace in reserve, highlighting his nine-year-old son Jack, who is already showing impressive signs in karting, drawing comparisons with Berger’s son Johan and adding that he remains in regular contact with the Austrian over the phone.

Speaking in the same interview with OE24, Marko stressed that high-performing figures will always attract interest from rival teams, pointing out how Lambiase has raised his profile significantly through his work alongside Verstappen. As has become clear in recent days, the Italian-British engineer is set to leave Red Bull at the end of 2027 to join McLaren the following year in a newly created role as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to Stella.

He also hinted that Red Bull have already moved to cover his potential departure by bringing in a replacement from Ferrari, suggesting the team were well prepared for such a scenario. However, he stopped short of revealing the identity of the new arrival, leaving a layer of mystery over who exactly has been recruited from Maranello.