The young F2 driver will take another step on his journey to the F1 grid next week
During the buildup to the 2024 Miami Grand Prix last week the most popular name in the paddock was not that of a current driver, or even the soon-to-depart Adrian Newey.
Instead it was that of 17-year-old phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Reports throughout last week indicated that Antonelli was being eyed for a move to the Formula 1 grid sooner rather than later, with multiple outlets stating that a current team requested a dispensation from the FIA for the young driver to be granted a spot on the grid before his 18th birthday. Under FIA rules and regulations, drivers have to be 18 for a spot on the F1 grid.
While Team Principal James Vowles downplayed the reporting, it was widely believed that Antonelli was being considered for a spot at Williams currently held by Logan Sargeant, perhaps as early as next weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Speaking with the media at the FIA Press Conference in Miami Vowles dismissed the rumors, but did note that Sargeant has to “earn” his spot on the grid.
“Let’s put it this way. I haven’t spoken to Kimi since Abu Dhabi last year. Hopefully that puts it in context. I know nothing about what’s going on at Mercedes’ tests right now. We are looking, as everyone else is, for where we want to be on driver line-up for next year and we have our own young driver [program]. In the case of Kimi, I can’t really adjudicate on the level he’s at,” said Vowles last week in Miami. “In case of him coming into the car this year, I’ve always said from the beginning, it’s a meritocracy.
“Logan has to earn his seat. And at the moment, he has some tough targets where he has to get much closer to Alex. But there is nothing on the radar at the moment for replacing him.”
According to new reporting from German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, Imola will not see a shocking debut from the young driver, but he will be in action next week for another critical testing session with Mercedes.
And he will not be alone.
As first reported by AMuS and confirmed by other outlets Antonelli will drive Mercedes’ W13 — their challenger for the 2022 F1 season — at Silverstone next week. Joining Antonelli will be Mick Schumacher, the team’s current F1 reserve driver.
The session will not only give Mercedes another opportunity to judge Antonelli, but the presence of Schumacher, a driver with full-time F1 experience on his resume, will offer a critical measuring stick for the younger driver.
Antonelli was already tasked with taking a major step forward this season, as he competed in Formula Regional last season and skipped F3 altogether to make the jump to F2 for this season, where he is driving for Prema. After beginning his year with a P14 in the F2 Sprint Race in Bahrain Antonelli has delivered four points finishes, and is coming off his best result of the season, a P4 in the feature race at the Australian Grand Prix.
But he will face his biggest test yet next week, that could determine just how quickly the young driver reaches the F1 grid. As George Russell himself said during Miami when asked about Antonelli, it is just a matter of time until he is in a Mercedes. “There’s no doubt that he’s gonna be in a Mercedes at some point in the future,” stated Russell to the media, including SB Nation ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. “Time will tell, but yeah, he’s a great driver and won everything in his junior career.
“So there’s no reason not to see him in Formula One.”
Next week’s Silverstone shakedown will go a long way towards determining when that happens.
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