Antonelli completes first F1 test for Mercedes after snow delay

Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been tipped as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton next year, has completed his first test in a Formula 1 car.

The Formula 2 driver had to wait a little longer than expected for his first run in one of the team’s cars due to snow at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this week.

“It’s been an incredible experience,” said Antonelli. “I loved every second of it.

“The first day didn’t go as planned, we got some snow unfortunately so we couldn’t really drive. But the second day was dry and I got quite a lot of laps and it was really good fun.

“I want to thank all the team for all their hard work and I’m excited for what’s coming.”

Antonelli drove a 2021-specification W12, the team’s last championship-winning car. Although Mercedes could have run him in a 2022 machine which would be more representative of current cars, team principal Toto Wolff said they wanted his first experience to come in a more competitive chassis.

He covered a total of 500 kilometres at the circuit which plays host to the Austrian Grand Prix.

“We did some sim work and ran through some important things ahead of the day,” Antonelli added. “That was really useful because once I was out on track, I knew what the team was telling me on the radio.”

Mercedes scheduled Antonelli’s F1 test debut while he has a break of almost two months between F2 races. He lies ninth in the standings after six races, having achieved his best result last time out in Australia with fourth place.

The team is believed to be considering promoting Antonelli to its F1 team next year when Hamilton joins for Ferrari. Potential alternatives including Carlos Sainz Jnr, whom Hamilton is replacing at the Scuderia, and Max Verstappen, following rumours he is considering an early exit from his Red Bull contract.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free