Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have developed one of F1’s most iconic partnerships but at 39 years of age, the need for a successor is growing.
Mercedes and Williams have announced the extension of the power-unit partnership until the end of the 2030 campaign in a move that could serve to boost the future F1 hopes of Kimi Antonelli. The Italian prospect – seen as the long-term successor to Lewis Hamilton – has been rumoured as a potential future option for the Grove-based team
The link between the two organisations has been a fruitful one for both teams over the past decade with Valtteri Bottas and George Russell both making the move to Mercedes after strong spells in the Williams setup.
While there is no technical partnership in place between the two parties, ties are likely to remain strong as long as the power unit deal remains in place. Then there are the personnel – Toto Wolff was a former executive director and shareholder in Williams, while their new team principal, James Vowles, worked at Mercedes for over a decade.
Speaking after the conclusion of the latest agreement, Wolff said: “It is fantastic to extend our partnership with Williams Racing until 2030. We have enjoyed a strong relationship with them since the introduction of the current power unit regulations and look forward to continuing that into this next era.
“Their commitment and support to our future power unit strategy is highly valued. We look forward to approaching this new rules set together, with the same passion and enthusiasm we did in 2014 and with the aim of achieving similar successes.”
Keeping a logical path into the Williams team open in 2026 and beyond is a major victory for Mercedes and Antonelli. While the Mercedes-backed duo of Mick Schumacher and Frederik Vesti were both overlooked by Vowles for 2024, the Italian teenager is a prospect of a much higher calibre.
His programme – to be carried out with perennial frontrunners PREMA Racing – is expected to be a two-year one with the plan being a foundational year in 2024, followed by an assault on the title in 2025.
This would tee him up for a move onto the F1 grid in 2026, but if Hamilton isn’t yet ready to depart and Russell’s form avoids a total capitulation, there will be no room at the Mercedes inn.
Williams, therefore, could play a pivotal role in his development, providing a platform on which Antonelli can develop while he waits for Hamilton to bow out from F1. In return, Vowles would receive one of the most exciting feeder series talents of the past decade. All that’s left to do is for the 17-year-old to live up to his billing.
