Mercedes have started looking to the future ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s departure later this year.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will race in a Mercedes F1 car for the first time at the Italian Grand Prix next month, as talk about the youngster replacing Lewis Hamilton continues to heat up.
Antonelli is reportedly set to make his debut for the Silver Arrows when he takes to the cockpit for FP1 of the Italian GP on September 1.
Antonelli’s inaugural Formula 1 journey could not be undertaken at a more esteemed venue than Monza’s Autodromo Nazionale, renowned for its rich history and prestige. However, the timing of this decision has led to speculation regarding Mercedes’ potential lineup for the 2025 Formula One season.
Mandatory practice sessions for junior drivers have been part of the F1 programme for some time, with it little surprise Mercedes are choosing to put Antonelli behind the steering wheel.
However, given Mercedes – and specifically Hamilton – have been in fine form prior to the summer break, the decision to run Antonelli’s practice session this early in the season has raised some eyebrows.
Antonelli has long been touted as Hamilton’s eventual replacement when the seven-time world champion heads off to join Ferrari next year.
The Brackley-based constructor’s eagerness to see how Antonelli performs in their F1 car in front of a paying audience could point towards the fact Mercedes are edging closer to selecting him for the 2025 campaign.
It has also been reported that Antonelli will be announced as Hamilton’s successor at the upcoming Italian GP, meaning he could already be a Mercedes F1 driver by the time the FP1 session takes place.
Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, has previously expressed his candid interest in Kimi Antonelli, most recently stating to Sky Sports: “First and foremost, Carlos [Sainz] deserves a premier seat.
“However, we have initiated a journey to say, ‘We wish to reinvent ourselves moving forward.’ Kimi Antonelli certainly plays a significant role in that vision.
We have not yet made a decision regarding next year, but we did not want to keep Carlos in limbo, as it is only fair that he makes decisions for his own future – and he is performing exceptionally well.”
As expected, Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship standings as the weekend begins, holding a substantial 78-point advantage over Lando Norris in second place.
Nonetheless, Verstappen aims to break a streak of three races without a victory as he approaches his home Grand Prix at the Zandvoort Circuit.
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