Team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his FP1 debut for Mercedes at next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Antonelli, who turned 18 on Sunday at the Dutch Grand Prix, has been heavily linked with the race seat that is being vacated by Lewis Hamilton next year. While Wolff wouldn’t be drawn on whether a potential deal could be announced at Monza, he says it will be a special moment for the Italian youngster to make his first FP1 appearance at his home race.
“We’re going to do an FP1 with Kimi in Monza, which is going to be a really emotional moment,” Wolff said. “We’ve followed him since he was 11 and a baby go-kart driver, with a Mercedes kit, proud to be in the garage… To see him drive out on Friday in FP1, in Monza, in front of the tifosi, having an Italian kid in a competitive car, I think that will be something that everybody in Italy can be very proud of. Then we’ll take it from there.”
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While Antonelli will be in the Mercedes on Friday, his name has been linked with experience at Williams should Logan Sargeant be replaced, but amid growing speculation about Sargeant’s future, Wolff insists Antonelli is not an option for that seat.
“Between [Williams team principal] James Vowles and myself, we have super-transparent discussions and relationship. James was part of developing Kimi and finding Kimi. I think what’s best for him is to continue the program as we have decided, with the TPC [Testing of Previous Car] testing and F2, and see how that goes, rather than disrupting our plan and giving him the opportunity in a Williams. That’s the decision we have taken.”
Wolff says he’d like to see reserve driver Mick Schumacher get an opportunity to race at Williams if the team opts to replace Sargeant.
“I would very much hope that Mick gets the chance, because we haven’t seen the real Mick. You’re not winning F4, F3 and F2 and then you’re not performing in F1… I think he deserves a chance. If the opportunity would be at Williams it’s something that we would be cheering for. But it’s James Vowles’ decision.”