Andrea Kimi Antonelli has officially moved to Mercedes.
His situation for 2025 remains a matter of speculation, but many believe Mercedes will announce at the Italian Grand Prix that the young prodigy will race alongside George Russell next season. The team confirmed on Monday that Antonelli will take part in FP1 on Friday, driving Russell’s W15 in the first practice session at their home race.
The young driver called the opportunity “special.” announcement From the team.
“To be part of the first FP1 is really special.” said Antonelli: “I’m super excited to be driving the W15 and sharing the track with so many great drivers. I can’t wait!”
Antonelli, who currently drives for the Prema F2 Team, is seventh in the F2 Drivers’ Championship standings and has won one F2 sprint race at the British Grand Prix and one F2 feature race at the Hungarian Grand Prix this season.
F1 rules state that each team must have all their drivers take part in practice during the season, even those with less than two Grand Prix races under their belts, which is part of the sport’s programme to prepare young drivers for days on the F1 grid.
Leaking the news from FP1 on the Sunday after the Dutch Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also poured cold water on another piece of speculation swirling around the paddock. With rumours swirling around Logan Sargent’s position at Williams, and reports surfacing that team boss James Bowles could replace the driver before the end of the season, Wolff played down the idea that Antonelli would drive for Williams this year.
“That’s not going to happen,” Wolf said. Empty When asked about Antonelli driving for Sgt.
However, we do know that Antonelli will compete in the W15 this weekend and, if rumours are to be believed, the young prodigy could be racing in the W16 next season.
