2024-05-12 03:54:16
Amid speculation that Andrea Kimi Andonelli might make his Grand Prix debut as early as this year, Mercedes F1 carried out another test session with Antonelli at Silverstone, which was also attended by Mick Schumacher. Since seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton announced his sudden departure from Mercedes in early February, there has been speculation in F1 over who might take over his racing seat next year.
Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff has repeatedly admitted he will take his time to make a final decision on replacing Hamilton. After initial speculation that Carlos Sainz Jr. would indeed swap teams with Hamilton and join Mercedes, two other drivers were floated as possible replacements. Following the unrest at Red Bull, Max Verstappen is considered Wolff’s favorite and is already said to be in talks with the management of the reigning world champions, led by Raymond Vermeulen. Williams Racing boss James Bowles appears to have accelerated his plans to sign Antonelli following Mercedes’ “excellent” testing at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix earlier this month. The 17-year-old recorded a similar lap time to Lewis Hamilton (in a 2022 car) on his first day of testing. But it was on the second day that he really “amazed” everyone with his efforts on the medium tires. Antonelli entered F2 this year amid a lot of hype, with some at Mercedes hailing him as the next Charles Leclerc or Max Verstappen. But few would have expected him to adapt so quickly to an F1 car. Mercedes launches Kimi Antonelli in fuel-efficient run at Silverstone The final leg of Antonelli’s testing program took place at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. This will be the team’s third test, following visits to the Red Bull Ring in Austria and Imola. According to the regulations, teams must use cars manufactured at least two years ago during these events. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to draw valid conclusions. The difference between this test and the previous two is that Antonelli was not the only one on track. According to F1-Insider, he was joined by Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher, who had a different driving plan. With hard tires and plenty of fuel, Schumacher covered more than 350 km, far exceeding the total race distance. The team wanted to try different settings to see if they might get the tires into their optimal operating window, something Hamilton and George Russell have struggled with recently. As for Antonelli, Mercedes gave him the opportunity to “experience the times on his own terms” with little fuel and soft tires. At Imola I was focusing on distance running, so it seemed like a natural next step. Mercedes has decided to keep its lap times “secret”. Perhaps they are wary of the added pressure placed on their teenage academy stars. Will Kimi Antonelli race for Mercedes in 2025? Whether or not Antonelli races for Williams this year, bigger questions will weigh on him. As Hamilton heads to Ferrari, Toto Wolff plans to promote him to Mercedes. This is why its in-depth testing is so valuable. This gives teams a huge amount of data to analyze to make decisions. Of course, the half of the season with Williams will be even more representative. He will have a full race weekend and will be under even more intense monitoring. He will also face veteran Alexander Albon, who earned two podium finishes during his career at the 1987 Grand Prix. Albon beat Sargent quite brutally and dominated Sargent in every race during their partnership. 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg previously warned former team manager James Wolff that it may be too early for Antonelli to race for the first team. But if he can shine at Williams, it would certainly put to rest any lingering doubts at Brackley. No Imola debut Regarding Antonelli’s motorsport journey, Wolff said: “I want to see him in an F1 car and I’m happy. He’s been with us since he was 11. There’s a photo of him as a baby in a kart, standing next to me on the center console And now to see him become an F1 driver is really great for me “Before the Miami Grand Prix, Antonelli will be present at the Grand Prix of. Emilia-Romagna from next weekend. There is a possibility. that he will join Williams and succeed Logan Sargent, who struggled in the opening race of his second F1 season. Williams has also reportedly asked the FIA for a special exemption to grant the 17-year-old sensation a superlicense to drive in F1 before his 18th birthday at the end of August. However, following speculation over a possible debut, Williams team boss James Bowles has confirmed that Antonelli will not make his debut at Imola. “There were rumors that he would be in the Imola car, but he won’t be in the Imola car,” Bowles said of 17-year-old Antonelli during the Grand Prix weekend from Miami. “We are currently evaluating drivers for 2026 and 25, but what we really want is a combination of drivers that is appropriate for those two years, because if the regulations change, because we don’t want to change drivers in 2026 . So “There is no doubt that he (Antonelli) has great skills, but he is only 20 months old. He has already driven an F4. That’s his position and it’s a completely different proposition. For most people right now we’re talking regarding that four or five driver period. »
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