Mercedes is ready to provide their younger protégé Andrea Kimi Antonelli his first free apply session in F1, with the younger Italian taking to the observe on the Italian Grand Prix subsequent week at Monza.
Antonelli, who will flip 18 on race day at Zandvoort subsequent weekend, is presently competing within the FIA System 2 Championship with Prema.
However the teenager can also be present process a rigorous non-public F1 take a look at programme with Mercedes designed to ease his doubtless promotion subsequent yr to motorsport’s elite.
The Italian’s FP1 outing at Monza will mark Antonelli’s first public look in an F1 automotive and a big step in his growth forward of his potential integration into Mercedes’ 2025 line-up alongside George Russell.
Based on a report from Motorsport.com, Antonelli will likely be getting behind the wheel of Hamilton’s W15 automotive for Friday’s opening apply at Monza.
The session will likely be a part of the necessary rookie driver FP1 outings every workforce should fulfill in the course of the season. Monza can also be anticipated to be the stage the place Mercedes formally proclaims Antonelli’s promotion to their 2025 driver lineup alongside George Russell.
Prepping for the longer term, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, who grew to become Mercedes’ head of race engineering this week, is predicted to be Antonelli’s engineer for the session.
It will enable Bono to additional set up a working relationship with the younger driver, with whom he grew to become acquainted after final month’s Belgian Grand Prix when a number of key members of the Mercedes workforce stayed on at Spa to watch Antonelli’s progress throughout a Pirelli tyre take a look at.
Mercedes has but to formally announce its rookie driver plans for the rest of the season, however with solely two appropriate alternatives left after Monza – Mexico and Abu Dhabi – the Italian Grand Prix weekend gives a major venue for Antonelli to showcase his expertise in entrance of his residence crowd.
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