At just 17 years old, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has a promising motorsport career ahead of him. The Italian driver has already made a name for himself, debuting this season in Formula 2 and clocking significant mileage in a Formula 1 car. Antonelli recently tested with Mercedes’ W12, the team that may potentially promote him to the premier class next year.
What was supposed to be a two-day test at the Red Bull Ring in Austria turned into a single session due to poor weather conditions. Despite this, Antonelli managed to cover over 500 kilometers behind the wheel of the W12, the latest award-winning car from Mercedes. The driver described his first experience in a Formula 1 car as an “amazing experience.”
“I enjoyed every second,” Antonelli shared on social media. “The first day didn’t go exactly as planned – we had some snow which prevented us from driving – but the second day was dry and we were able to complete quite a few laps. I had a great time.” An official debut in Formula 1 seems to be just a matter of time. “I can’t wait for what’s to come,” he hinted.
Is Antonelli the Successor to Lewis Hamilton?
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, was also pleased with Antonelli’s first kilometers. He confirmed in Japan that there are more test days lined up for Antonelli, with the aim of getting him “acclimatized” to Formula 1. The German newspaper Bild previously reported that the Italian is one of Wolff’s favorites to replace Lewis Hamilton next year.
Only Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso are considered to have a better chance. However, the Spaniard has already extended his contract with Aston Martin, and the Dutchman has shown little indication of a possible departure. This makes Antonelli’s tests all the more intriguing to watch.
