As Andrea Kimi Antonelli struggles with his form, commentator David Croft calls for clarity in the Sky Sports F1 Podcast: “Make the announcement for 2026 right now.” According to Croft, the young Italian needs a sign of confidence from the team at this very moment.
Antonelli has long been seen as the heir apparent to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. However, despite his impressive trophy cabinet from the junior classes, the rookie is having an inconsistent season. During the race weekend in Italy, things went wrong again: Antonelli ended up in the gravel trap in VT2 and also received a ten-second time penalty in the race. Painful for the young Italian, especially as the pressure only increases.
According to Sky Sports commentator David Croft, Mercedes must now intervene. “Perhaps Antonelli, due to his age or character, tends to worry more than other drivers,” he says. “What he really needs is an arm around him, support and confidence from the team saying: ‘You are our driver next year, don’t worry. This is a learning year, we believe in you.'”
Croft believes that Mercedes should not let the situation fester. “Officially, Antonelli does not yet have a contract for next year. Let him know that he has time to grow. That takes away pressure. When you’re so young, it’s easy to start doubting yourself. A clear signal from the team can make a world of difference. What is Mercedes waiting for?”
