The first free practice for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza took an unexpected turn when young Italian driver, Kimi Antonelli, crashed just ten minutes in. With an impact of 45G, Antonelli had to prematurely end his first F1 session. In the post-session press conference, Toto Wolff discussed the impact of the incident on Antonelli’s future.
Impact on Future Driver Selection
During the press conference, Wolff emphasized that the crash will not directly influence the choice of the second driver alongside George Russell. “Today changes nothing about our choice for the second driver. Nobody is worried about what happens in the first free practice. Antonelli still has to find his way and if you have the ambition to become a champion, you have to learn to deal with these kinds of situations.”
Wolff continued his statement with a message he had given to Antonelli before the first free practice began. “Enjoy it. This is the best job in the world. Relax and let the pressure slide off you. Whatever happens, make the best of it. I told him the same thing after the session,” said Wolff.
