Andrea Kimi Antonelli is about to be handed his first FP1 outing with Mercedes on the Italian Grand Prix as preparations for his potential promotion to its Formulation 1 line-up from 2025 intensify.
The Italian, who turns 18 on Sunday, is strongly tipped to be named as substitute for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes from 2025, and has performed a collection of personal checks in W13 and W14 F1 vehicles this yr.
In accordance with Autosport sister website it.motorsport.com, Mercedes is about to provide Antonelli his first public F1 outing at Monza in considered one of its necessary FP1 outings for a rookie driver, the place the crew can also be anticipated to finalise its association to advertise its junior driver into its 2025 driver line-up alongside George Russell.
Prema Formulation 2 racer Antonelli is anticipated to take over Hamilton’s W15 F1 automobile for the session with a purpose to be engineered by Peter Bonnington, who not too long ago grew to become acquainted with the teen through the Pirelli tyre take a look at instantly after the Belgian GP.
Bonnington has not too long ago been promoted to Mercedes head of race engineering, a job he’ll dovetail with race engineering duties, and retains him on the crew in 2025.
A number of members of the Mercedes engineering crew, together with Bonnington, remained at Spa-Francorchamps to comply with Antonelli’s progress on the take a look at.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Antonelli has already been fulfilling simulator driver duties at Mercedes alongside his personal testing programme, whereas his FP1 outing shall be his first public F1 look on monitor for Mercedes.
Mercedes is but to formally announce its FP1 rookie driver plans for this yr and after Monza there are simply two occasions, Mexico and Abu Dhabi, that are both not avenue tracks or run below a dash race format.
In an unique interview with Autosport over the F1 summer break, Antonelli stated he was not taking something with no consideration at Mercedes however was additionally not afraid of being judged on the most important stage.
“Some extent of fear I feel is all the time there, the prospect of not with the ability to carry out I feel frightens everybody,” Antonelli stated concerning the prospect of turning into an F1 rookie.
“My strategy is to see it as a terrific alternative to study, develop and likewise benefit from the second.
“I am not afraid of being judged, I do know Mercedes has a transparent opinion about my potential, already this season in F2 the championship did not kick off in the easiest way however there have been no unfavorable ideas.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Picture by: Mercedes
“I’m fairly calm, if the chance offered itself to me I might take it with eagerness and attempt to take advantage of it.
“Not too long ago there was some stress on me with all of the rumours about subsequent yr, however I’ve all the time tried to take pleasure in it. I am having fun with the alternatives I’ve.”
