Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton at Italian Grand Prix as F1 debutant namedFormula 1 rules require teams to field young drivers in at least two first practice sessions over the course of a season and Mercedes are set to use one to blood their next star
The youngster is set to fill in for Lewis Hamilton – the man who he is likely to supplant full-time after this season. The seven-time F1 winner is headed to Ferrari and, for a few time presently, starlet Antonelli has been the top choice to fill his situate.
Mercedes ruled out the foremost high-profile elective, Carlos Sainz, a whereas prior and the Spaniard has presently marked for Williams. And group boss Toto Wolff has at long last given up on his dream of poaching Max Verstappen from Ruddy Bull in time for the 2025 season.
Antonelli, who turns 18 this end of the week, features a stellar record in junior categories and, whereas his make a big appearance Equation 2 season has been troublesome so distant, Mercedes have been awed with his exhibitions amid a few trips in past F1 apparatus so far this year.
The Bologna-born racer’s compensate may be a competitive make a big appearance in FP1 at Monza following Friday. The Italy race is additionally progressively likely to be the perfect time for the team to affirm that Antonelli will race nearby George Russell another year, in spite of the fact that Wolff has said numerous times that he will not surge to form that choice.
The hone sessions are too an perfect opportunity for Antonelli to work with Dwindle Bonnington amid a live session. ‘Bono’, who has worked with Hamilton for numerous a long time, has been advanced to head of race building at the group but is set to proceed to work specifically with one of their drivers from 2025 – most likely Antonelli.
Whereas numerous at Mercedes know the youngster well, given he has been portion of their youthful driver program for a few time, Bonnington as it were as of late have to be know Antonelli at a tire test taking after final month’s Belgian Amazing Prix. He was one of those observing on as the adolescent drove around Spa-Francorchamps.
He said: “Some degree of worry I think is always there, the prospect of not being able to perform I think frightens everyone. My approach is to see it as a great opportunity to learn, grow and also enjoy the moment. I’m not afraid of being judged, I know Mercedes has a clear opinion about my potential, already this season in F2 the championship didn’t kick off in the best way but there were no negative thoughts.
“I am quite calm, if the opportunity presented itself to me I would take it with eagerness and try to make the most of it. Recently there has been some pressure on me with all the rumours about next year, but I have always tried to enjoy it. I’m enjoying the opportunities I have.”
