Forward of the 2025 F1 season, Crimson Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko reckoned that there might be enormous strain on Andrea Kimi Antonelli ‘s shoulders because the Italian is about to make his F1 debut with Mercedes.
Mercedes introduced on the eve of final yr’s Italian Grand Prix that their F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will substitute Lewis Hamilton, who had confirmed his departure from the staff again in final February.
The Bologna-born driver, who competed in Method 2 final season, has accomplished a number of take a look at outings with Mercedes for the reason that Brackley-based outfit introduced his promotion. He first carried out working with the 2021 F1 Mercedes on the Crimson Bull Ring earlier than racking up mileage with the 2022 F1 Mercedes in Imola and in Silverstone.
Antonelli then went on to realize expertise at Spa in August earlier than finishing his first working on a race weekend. The 18-year-old took over George Russell’s automotive within the opening observe session on the Italian Grand Prix, however a mistake on his second flying lap noticed him crash into the boundaries on the Parabolica nook.
He then travelled to Mexico, the place he drove Lewis Hamilton’s automotive in FP1 on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the place he admittedly took a calmer strategy to keep away from any mistake.
The Mercedes junior has lately accomplished one other take a look at run, that point at Jerez, racking up laps within the 2021 F1 Mercedes final Wednesday in good climate circumstances.
Crimson Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has in contrast Kimi Antonelli’s fast rise to Max Verstappen’s early profession. The Austrian reckoned that there might be extra strain on the Bologna-born driver as he begins his F1 profession in a high staff whereas Verstappen made his F1 debut in a midfield outfit.
“Antonelli is a danger, however we additionally took that danger with Verstappen previously. Max was very younger when he bought into that automotive. However in his case, he wasn’t in a high staff so he had much less strain.”
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