Formula 1 News: Mercedes signs Antonelli despite Friday crash
Kimi Antonelli’s big practice crash not even two flying laps into his official F1 practice debut at Monza on Friday delayed the scheduled announcement about his 2025 race seat until this morning – see Press Release from Mercedes below.
Instead of facing the media on Friday, and potentially talking about replacing Lewis Hamilton from next season, the 18-year-old Italian took a trip to the medical center.
Here’s Kimi Antonelli’s FP1 crash đ„
To become a good F1 driver, you first need to make mistakes. pic.twitter.com/3NqeNGsTawâ Marc | Formula 1 đ (@433_marc) August 30, 2024
“I think the marketing team was ready with the press release that he will get the seat in 2025,” former F1 driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport.
“They assumed it would go smoothly, and then he was in the wall at the Parabolica,” he added.
Doornbos described Antonelli’s ultra-speedy and fleeting moment in George Russell’s Mercedes as “bizarre”.
“He was immediately on the white lines, sometimes even touching the grass,” said the Dutchman. “He went through the second Lesmo 7kph faster than Max Verstappen. “In Ascari, he was 9kph faster than anyone else – all day. The most difficult corner.
“That’s why his rear tires were already much too hot. He then steers in, and no one was home.”
The 52G impact for Antonelli immediately raised new chatter that a leap straight into Formula 1 next year may be far too premature for the youngster.
“The pressure was enormous,” Doornbos said.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff instantly reassured Antonelli on the radio, telling his protĂ©gĂ©: “All good, Kimi.”
The Austrian later told the media: “He only did a lap and a half, but in this lap and a half he did the job.”
Wolff has not been hiding that Antonelli’s race deal for 2025 is already signed and sealed, but when asked after the crash on Friday, he insisted: “We haven’t confirmed him.
“I like his talent, his development potential, his family. But we haven’t confirmed him yet.”
Rumors abounded that a scheduled official announcement for Friday would happen instead on Saturday. Indeed, Mercedes issued the press release early on Saturday morning.
“Mercedes hyped Antonelli so heavily,” said Doornbos. “This (Friday) was the day that it was supposed to happen.”
As for Wolff, he insists the crash does not give him second thoughts about Antonelli’s future. In fact, plans for the teenager’s next Friday outing are already being made for the Mexican GP.
“Zero effect,” Wolff said when asked if anything has changed after the crash.
“We’d rather have a problem in slowing him down than making him faster,” he added. “Because what we’ve seen from one and a half laps is just astonishing.
“We are running fully conscious into these driver decisions, fully conscious of what can happen, what to expect and managing the expectations,” said the Austrian. “And clearly here with everything piling up on him in Monza, that’s very difficult to cope with.
“Is that the reason why he put it in the wall? Maybe. But like I said before, I’d rather slow somebody down than make him fast, because the second one is impossible.”
Mercedes Press Release
Multiple Grand Prix winner George Russell will be partnered by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2025 as the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team unveils its new driver line-up. Antonelli steps up from FIA F2 and graduates from the team’s junior program, like Russell before him.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, commented: “Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior program and our belief in home-grown talent.
“George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport. We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field.”
George joined the team’s junior program in 2017. He rose rapidly through the single-seater ranks to F1, winning the GP3 and F2 championships in his first season. After three years starring at Williams – including an impressive cameo for Mercedes at Bahrain in 2020 – he was promoted to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2022. He claimed his maiden F1 victory in the SĂŁo Paulo Grand Prix and became a multiple race winner with success in Austria this year.
George added: “I’m really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025. His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved. He’s a fantastic young talent and a fellow graduate of our junior program. I look forward to using the experience I’ve gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1. I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I’ve been his team-mate. I’ve learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi.
“As a team, we’re building a lot of positive momentum heading into next year. We continue to make progress on track and are working hard to put all the pieces in place to fight for world championships. It is a really exciting journey we are on; I am confident Kimi and I can continue to push the team forward and help deliver on the promise we are showing.”
Kimi meanwhile has enjoyed a stunning rise through the lower ranks of motorsport, and joined the team’s junior program as a 12-year old in 2019. After success in karting, including FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series titles, he graduated to single-seaters. He stormed to both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022, before claiming the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship.
Kimi made the step up to FIA Formula 2 for 2024 and has handled it with aplomb. He has claimed two victories so far this season, including an impressive Feature Race success in Budapest.
Kimi commented: “It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they’ve given me in my career so far and the faith they’ve shown in me. I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.
“I’m also really excited to become George’s team-mate. He came through the team’s junior program just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for. He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track.”
Markus SchĂ€fer, Non-Executive Chairman & Mercedes-Benz AG CTO, added: “It is an exciting time for the team as we unveil our driver line-up for 2025. We open the next chapter in our story next year and have a fantastic partnership with which to do so.
“George, as a multiple Grand Prix winner, has developed into a top-tier driver. It has been a pleasure to see him come through the ranks of the team’s junior program, establish himself in F1 over the past few years, and become a leader within the team.
“Kimi, just like George and Lewis, is one of our home-grown talents with a very promising future. His record at junior level is incredibly impressive and his raw speed is clear to see. I can’t wait to see him in a race seat next year and watch his supreme talent shine in a Mercedes F1 car.”