Kimi Antonelli is enjoying a brilliant rookie season in Formula 1 in 2025. However, his future at Mercedes is in major doubt.

The Italian has put in some standout performances this season, including becoming the youngest pole sitter in any qualifying format for the Sprint in Miami. Antonelli claimed his maiden podium in F1 last time out in Canada, finishing P3 after overtaking Oscar Piastri at the start.

Antonelli can break Lance Stroll’s record as the youngest driver to start on the front row of the grid at the Austrian Grand Prix. He will be keen to have a strong weekend amid the recent rumours surrounding Mercedes’ driver line-up for 2026.

Mercedes are ‘desperately’ targeting Max Verstappen as his exit clause in his Red Bull contract could make him available on the F1 driver market. The Silver Arrows are keen admirers of the Dutchman, with Toto Wolff seemingly admitting that he is talking to Verstappen in Austria.

Antonelli and George Russell are out of contract in 2025 as Mercedes weigh up their options for next season. With Verstappen being heavily linked with the Brackley outfit, it would mean that one of them will have to make way in 2026.

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Karun Chandhok tells Kimi Antonelli he can copy Fernando Alonso and go on the sidelines in 2026

Mercedes have been warned they could ‘ruin’ Antonelli if they sign Verstappen. The Italian will likely be the one to make way in 2026 if the Dutchman does make the switch from Red Bull.

Antonelli is being outperformed by Russell, although that is to be expected given that he is a rookie. Speaking via Sky Sports F1 during FP3 in Austria, Karun Chandhok says that the 18-year-old could repeat what Fernando Alonso did during his early years in F1.

The Spaniard was sidelined after his debut season with Minardi in 2001, signing as a Renault test driver before returning to the grid with the Enstone team in 2003. Chandhok thinks Antonelli could end up on the sidelines in 2026.

“It’s a very good question because what could end up happening is you could see a situation, a Russell-Verstappen super team. I mean, that would be an unbelievably strong line-up. It would be tricky to manage, I think.

“Far away the strongest driver line-up on the grid. Well, not far away, I think the best, maybe not by a long way.

“What do you do with Kimi? Do you put him on the sidelines for a couple of years? He’s still young. It has happened [in the past].”

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Karun Chandhok says George Russell should be ‘annoyed’ over his Mercedes contract

Talking about Russell’s situation at Mercedes, Chandhok says the Brit should be ‘annoyed’ with his situation. He is enjoying the best start to an F1 season in his career, yet still does not have a new deal on the table.

“I get the feeling there’s a lot of cryptic chat in this story. So, reading between the lines, it’s not about next year. It sounds like Toto’s trying to gauge when he can get Verstappen, if it’s not next season,” he said.

“And that will have an impact on how long he keeps his current driver line-up of Russell and Antonelli. Russell would, obviously, love to have stability and want a two or three-year deal.

“But if Mercedes think they can get Verstappen for 2027, then that has an impact. Does Russell just sign a one-year deal? To be honest, if I was him, you’d still take that.

“It’s a tough call to make. If I was George, I’d be a bit annoyed, because he’s driving superbly this season. He’s 9-2 up in qualifying to Antonelli.

“He’s finished on the podium in five out of the 10 Grand Prix, he won a race convincingly in Canada, he’s driving superbly. And you’d have thought: ‘I’m doing everything right to be rewarded with a contract and yet I’m being sort of dragged along here.”