Martin Brundle has delivered his verdict on Kimi Antonelli’s first F1 session in a Mercedes.
Antonelli crashed simply minutes into FP1 on Friday – a dreadful begin for the teenager driver who is ready to interchange Lewis Hamilton subsequent season as Mercedes’ new hope.
Toto Wolff reacted to Antonelli’s crash by insisting his religion stays steadfast within the 18-year-old prodigy.
“Toto is doing the one factor he can – to assist his man,” Sky Sports activities’ Brundle stated.
“They don’t seem to be going to get Max Verstappen. It appears that they’re going to use Antonelli, who’s clearly a giant star within the making.
“All they will do is mitigate.
“Sir Jackie Stewart, for a lot of a long time, has had an expression: ‘Pet canines will moist the carpet!’
“That’s roughly what Toto is saying however in a extra eloquent manner.
“Antonelli is fortunate that he’s acquired such an understanding workforce and boss round him, and that they consider in him a lot.
“Onwards and upwards. He went straight again out to begin pumping in F2 instances, which was spectacular.”
After a routine journey to the medical centre on Friday after his FP1 crash, Antonelli returned to the monitor for System 2 qualifying.
He certified sixth for F2 motion at Monza this weekend.
‘Highlight of F1’ warning for Antonelli
Antonelli is anticipated to be named by Mercedes because the successor to Ferrari-bound Hamilton.
His entry into System 1 will make him probably the most highly-touted rookie since Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
“He’s, however you by no means know till they’re below the highlight of F1 when they’re measured in each manner, day by day,” Brundle stated.
“It’s like a flower rising. Generally the highlight makes the flower develop taller, generally it wilts them. You by no means know till they’re in that scenario.
“There have been drivers who have been sensational in karting and junior racing however acquired to F1 then didn’t ship.
“The place he’s a fortunate boy is that he’ll parachute right into a front-running, grand prix-winning, maybe championship-winning workforce.
“Meaning you don’t undergo years behind the grid, all of the shunts, all of the stress.”
