Staff principal Toto Wolff has confirmed Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his FP1 debut for Mercedes at subsequent weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Antonelli, who turned 18 on Sunday on the Dutch Grand Prix, has been closely linked with the race seat that’s being vacated by Lewis Hamilton subsequent 12 months. Whereas Wolff wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not a possible deal may very well be introduced at Monza, he says it will likely be a particular second for the Italian teen to make his first FP1 look at his dwelling race.
“We’re going to do an FP1 with Kimi in Monza, which goes to be a very emotional second,” Wolff mentioned. “We’ve adopted him since he was 11 and a child go-kart driver, with a Mercedes package, proud to be within the storage… To see him drive out on Friday in FP1, in Monza, in entrance of the tifosi, having an Italian child in a aggressive automotive, I believe that can be one thing that everyone in Italy will be very happy with. Then we’ll take it from there.”
Whereas Antonelli can be within the Mercedes on Friday, his title has been linked with expertise at Williams ought to Logan Sargeant get replaced, however amid rising hypothesis about Sargeant’s future, Wolff insists Antonelli just isn’t an choice for that seat.
“Between [Williams team principal] James Vowles and myself, we have now super-transparent discussions and relationship. James was a part of creating Kimi and discovering Kimi. I believe what’s greatest for him is to proceed this system as we have now determined, with the TPC [Testing of Previous Car] testing and F2, and see how that goes, quite than disrupting our plan and giving him the chance in a Williams. That’s the choice we have now taken.”
Wolff says he’d prefer to see reserve driver Mick Schumacher get a possibility to race at Williams if the group opts to exchange Sargeant.
“I’d very a lot hope that Mick will get the possibility, as a result of we haven’t seen the true Mick. You’re not profitable F4, F3 and F2 and you then’re not performing in F1… I believe he deserves an opportunity. If the chance can be at Williams it’s one thing that we might be cheering for. Nevertheless it’s James Vowles’ resolution.”
