Mercedes has planned its first Formula 1 test for highly-rated Junior Driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli with the Italian slated to drive the W12 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria in mid-April.
According to Motorsport.com, the 17-year-old Italian will commence a two-day test at the Austrian GP venue on April 16.
F1’s Testing of Previous Car regulations have permitted 2022 cars to be used during teams’ programmes with reserve and junior talent, marking the first time current-gen ground effect cars can be used for such a purpose.
Antonelli’s outing however will be in the 2021 car that predates the ground effect rules, the W12, Mercedes’ last car to win the Constructors’ Championship.
This is the first of several tests planned to acclimatise the youngster to the rigours of F1 and no doubt Antonelli will get his hands on the W13 at a later date.
The teenager is contesting his rookie Formula 2 season with Italian team Prema, having bypassed Formula 3 after an impressive 2023 which saw him win the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) Drivers’ title.
He currently lies ninth in the Formula 2 Drivers’ standings with a haul of 24 points, having achieved a best result of fourth in the most recent Feature Race run at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Such is his rapid rise through the junior ranks thus far, Antonelli is one of the names floated as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.
With the seven-time champion departing for Maranello next season, speculation has been rife as to who will partner George Russell at the Brackley-based outfit in the near future.
Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are among Mercedes’ potential suitors, although Team Principal Toto Wolff is reportedly keen on snatching reigning World Champion Max Verstappen from his long-term contract at Red Bull.
The Austrian went as far as telling Fox Australia that a decision on who gets the second Mercedes seat “depends on what Max does.”
Wolff added, “There are a few options that are really interesting for [Mercedes], from the very young super talent to some of the older ones who are very experienced.”
Antonelli arguably falls into the “very young super talent” category and the first of several test runs in the Mercedes W13 will no doubt put him in good stead to step up to Formula 1 if called upon.
It’s no secret that Wolff is keen on Verstappen, having missed out on the Dutchman’s signature while he was still competing in Formula 3, but with another hot youngster to think of in Antonelli, the Mercedes Team Principal will no doubt have to be careful not to let another young starlet through his fingers.
Still, Wolff doesn’t want to rush the young Italian, previously admitting the team has to “got to be careful because there’s a lot of hype around him.”
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