Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has shed light on how the futur🥃e of Kimi Antonelli might have turned out differently.

The🧜 talented teenager is set to drive in FP1 at the🐟 F1 Italian Grand Prix on Friday for Mercedes.

An♋tonelli, 18, is expected to be named as Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes, representing a hugely brave move for the team to place their faith in the youngster.

M𒉰arko insisted that Red Bull - 🌃whose junior drive programme is also formidable - never had a chance to consider recruiting Antonelli.

But he suggests that Fe🍒rrari opted against siဣgning him.

“He was driving for Tony Kartඣ,” Marko told the Inside Line F1 podcast.

“Tony Kart,🦂 in the past, had a cooperation with Ferrari.

“But you can’t have all the drivers! Ferꦗrari obviously didn’t take Antonelli even though they had first choice.”

Antonelli has been fast tracked this season into Formula 2ꦉ by Mercedes, wh🙈ere he has won a sprint and a feature race.

But replacing Hamilton in Formula 1 at a frontrunning ℱteam represents a major new challenge, if he is confirmed.

“I am not so informed 𒆙about the details of Antonelli,” Marko said. “I know he was testi🍌ng a lot in a Formula 1 car.

“If someone has the talent, and the team is ꧋br👍ave enough to do it…”

Mercedes꧂’ faith in Antonelli echoes ♊Red Bull’s decision to back a teenage Max Verstappen.

Verstappen, on course for a fourth F1🍸 title in a row, has justified Red Bull’s bold move.

“We showed it with Max. It’s the right approach,” Ma♛rko said.

“If someone is coming up, and he’s got the talent? Get him ♏in the car.”

Did Red Bull’s approach with Verstappen influence Mercedes’ call to back Anꦓtonelli?

Marko said: “For sure, it helped the🎀m make their decision…”