Jenson Button Cautions Mercedes: Rushing Kimi Antonelli Could End Career Before It Begins

Jenson Button cautions about Kimi Antonelli: “It has the potential to ruin a driver’s profession”

“There’s a delicate equilibrium at play, and teams must handle it with care.”

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, has cautioned Mercedes that hastily promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli to their team might "ruin" his career if he doesn't deliver instant results.

According to reports, Antonelli is the leading candidate to partner with George Russell at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula 1 season after Lewis Hamilton opted to move to Ferrari.

Toto Wolff has not made a final decision yet as he is still assessing if he can persuade Max Verstappen to join the team in Brackley.

Antonelli had an impressive performance during the recent FIA Formula 2 event at Silverstone, excelling in the sprint race despite the challenging weather.

Wolff thinks that Antonelli's victory eases much of the "pressure" on the Italian, especially as the excitement about his potential F1 debut next year keeps growing.

According to RN365, Button cautioned that Formula 1 teams should consider the implications of bringing drivers younger than 20 directly into the sport.

Button clarified that he didn't believe it was premature, asserting that it's important to seize every chance that arises, particularly for young individuals aged 17, 18, or 19.

"It’s impossible to refuse! However, I believe the teams should carefully consider the impact they have on a driver’s career at such a young age."

"If he excels, that's fantastic, but the demands of this sport can also ruin a driver's career. Therefore, it's crucial for teams to manage this carefully and find the right balance."

In 2000, at the age of 20 years and 53 days, Button gained recognition as the youngest British driver to begin his career in Formula 1.

The ex-Williams and McLaren racer reflected on his career, noting that he lacked sufficient F1 testing experience to qualify for a super licence. Nonetheless, he managed to obtain one and subsequently had an accident during practice.

“I recall Martin Brundle mentioning, ‘He’s too young for this,’” Button stated. “He was correct; I was indeed very young and had minimal testing experience, as the engines frequently failed.”

"I lacked sufficient mileage to qualify for a super license, but they issued it to me anyway. Then, during practice in Melbourne, I ended up crashing, prompting them to say, 'See, we warned you!'"

"I was in sixth place in the race when the engine failed, which means I could have earned points in my debut F1 race."

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