Official: Antonelli to take part in first free practice at Monza for Mercedes
Head of MercedesToto Wolff confirmed in Zandvoort what a young man Andrea Kimi Antonelli He will make his Formula 1 debut for Mercedes next week, taking part in the first free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. He also ruled out the Bologna driver, who turned 18 on Sunday, going on loan to Williams for the rest of the season, given growing speculation about Logan Sargeant’s early departure. Mercedes are expected to announce Antonelli soon as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement and George Russell’s partner from 2025.
“We are going to do FP1 with Kimi Antonelli. In Monza, it will be a very emotional moment because we have been following him since he was eleven years old, when he was a kid, a go-kart racer and a Mercedes boy, proud to be in the garage.” said Wolff in the Zandvoort paddock.
“Seeing him go out on Friday in FP1 at Monza, in front of the tifosi, with an Italian kid in a competitive car, I think it will be something that everyone in Italy can be very proud of and then we will continue,” added the Austrian team manager.
“With James Vowles (Williams director) we have discussions and a very transparent relationship, and James has been involved in Kimi’s development and the search for Kimi, so I think The best thing for him is to continue the programme as we have designed it, alternating tests with Formula 1 and Formula 2 to see how it goes, rather than interrupting our plan and giving him an opportunity at Williams, and that is the decision we have taken.”Wolf decided.