Antonelli has been handpicked by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to succeed Hamilton for the 2025 F1 season.

And he is not the only F2 racer to be promoted with Oliver Bearman also set to make the step up with Haas.

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari next season. PA

Jack Doohan, who finished third in 2023 in the F2, has also been picked up by Alpine and there could be more new faces next year with Liam Lawson linked with Red Bull and Audi.

But none of them have ever won a title in F2, while reigning champion Pourchaire has hit out at the decision to promote those who have not lifted silverware in the past.

Pourchaire, who has been linked with Audi as well, told Motorsport.com: “I did my best on track.

“Sure, some people say I won the championship in my third year of F2 and it doesn’t sound great, but I won it when I was 20.

“I’m the youngest race winner in F2 and F3, so I have nothing to prove. I just need an opportunity, that’s all.

“From the outside, for sure, if you’re in my shoes, it seems unfair.

Theo Pourchaire has hit out at the unfairness over other drivers getting promoted to the F1. PA

“A strong driver needs to recover from these things, cope with the pressure, but obviously this weekend wasn’t easy for him – you still need to compete in F2, you have all these shenanigans around you in Monza, an Italian kid that is being hyped, first time in a Mercedes car.

“That must be a heavy burden but if he wants to be a champion one day he needs to cope with that, and I’ve no doubt that he can and he will.”