1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Mercedes fast-tracking 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli into a fuꦍll-time seat is “too much too soon” after a “🔯terrible” season in F2.

Toto Wolff opted for Antonelli over signing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz when deciding on their replacement for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli has🔴 just two seasons of single-seater racing under his belt ahead of his first F1 race this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix.

At just 18, he’s the youngest driver on the 202ꦓ5 F1 grid. 

Hew could break 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s record of being the 🅠sport’s youngest-ever winn💖er if he’s victorious in any of the opening three races.

Speaking to , Villeneuve explained why Antonelli’s✱ debut has come too early.

“It’s too much too soon,” he said. “Kimi Antonelli had a terrไible season in Formula 2. Is it bec🐽ause he was already signed for F1 and the pressure got the better of him, who knows?

“Or maybe because he didn💛’t like that kind of car and maybe it’s better for him to be in a Formula One car. These are all question marks that we will find out very quickly, very soon.

“He s❀eems to be capable of taking risks and pushing the car, but then feeling where that edge is, we don’t know yet. Or how does he work on a full season 𒉰developing and evolving the car?

“How will the balance be between him an𒐪d Russell? Will they work hand in hand with similar driving styles or completely opposite driving styles which then makes it difficult for the team to evolve the car in direction that pleases both drivers.

“The jury is out on Antonelli bu♒t so many people in the media want 💧him to be amazing. I hope he is because if not, it will be a very heavy load to carry for him. A lot of pressure on his shoulders.”

Toto Wolff’s thought process ‘skewed’

Anton🍌elli has been part of the Mercedes junior programme since 201ꦫ8.

Mercedes view the Italian as their own Verstaജppen-like talent.

Wolff was left to regret being unable to give Verstappen a full-time drive ▨in F1, which ♍meant he ultimately joined the Red Bull stable.

Villeneuve feels that Wꦺolff’s long relationship with Antonelli has “skew𒅌ered” his thought process.

“They’ve taken a risk and gambled based on🔯 something that they were dee🅷ply wanting, more than based on results from last year and so on,” he added.

“They’ve made the decisio🅰n and they will make sure tha🐲t that decision will work out.

“It’s more they’ve decided what t♛he outcome should be so they will try to make sure that this outcome happens. Toto took Antonelli on when he was 12 when they started financing his go-kart career.

“It’s a long relationship that started then and when you take under your wing a 12-year-old, it’s like a father and son relationship. That kind of builds up a little bit. And if that happens then the thought proꦡcess is a little bit skewered.

“You want it to happen, so I don’t know. He’s definitely been competitive and super quick in every category except for Formula 2 so that’s something we will have 💞to find out

“They’ve been heavily invesཧted financially in him for so many years too. It’s hard to come to the point where you think maybe he’s not good enough. No, hold on. We’ve i💟nvested so much into this that he will be good.”