Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his official F1 practice debut at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. However, he ruled out the possibility of Antonelli joining Williams for a race seat this season.
Antonelli, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Sunday, is set to participate in the first free practice (FP1) session at Monza, driving Mercedes’ W15. The highly rated Italian prospect has been on the radar as a potential successor to Lewis Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season. This Monza outing marks a crucial step in his development within the team.
Antonelli’s Path to F1 Gains Momentum
Having spent significant time testing Mercedes’ older F1 machinery, Antonelli’s first official session in the current W15 car will offer valuable experience at a Grand Prix weekend. Wolff, speaking at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, expressed his enthusiasm about Antonelli’s upcoming debut.
“We’re going to do FP1 with Kimi in Monza, which will be a really emotional moment,” Wolff stated. “We’ve been following him since he was just 11 years old, back when he was a young karting driver. He has grown up within Mercedes, and now seeing him take part in an F1 weekend at Monza, in front of the tifosi, will be a special moment for him and for Italy.”
No Immediate F1 Seat at Williams
Despite speculation that Antonelli could be fast-tracked into a race seat at Williams before the end of the season, Wolff made it clear that this is not part of the plan. Williams’ current driver Logan Sargeant has faced struggles throughout the 2024 campaign, fueling rumors that Antonelli might replace him. However, Mercedes has no intention of altering the Italian’s current trajectory.
“James Vowles [Williams team principal] and I have a very open and transparent relationship,” Wolff explained. “James was involved in developing Kimi and played a key role in his journey. But we believe the best course for him is to stick to the original program we have set. That means continuing his testing with previous-generation F1 cars and completing his Formula 2 season with Prema.”
A Carefully Managed Transition
Mercedes has taken a methodical approach in preparing Antonelli for a potential full-time F1 seat in 2025. He has already completed extensive private testing with older F1 models, but the Monza FP1 session will be his first opportunity to compete on an active Grand Prix weekend. This step aligns with Mercedes’ strategy of gradual integration, allowing Antonelli to gain experience without unnecessary pressure.
While his anticipated promotion to the Mercedes race team for 2025 remains unofficial, many within the paddock view his Monza debut as another sign that the team is laying the groundwork for his future. With continued testing and a full Formula 2 campaign still ahead, Antonelli’s road to Formula 1 is progressing according to plan—without any detours to Williams.
His participation in FP1 at Monza will not only be a milestone in his career but also a proud moment for Italian motorsport fans eager to see a homegrown talent in a competitive F1 car.
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