Italian GP: an eventful debut for Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes' Antonelli spins out during first practice session.
The Italian Grand Prix provided a dramatic beginning for Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who spun out during his debut practice session after just five laps on the Monza circuit.
Antonelli, highly anticipated to be announced as Lewis Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes next year, was entrusted with driving George Russell's car during the opening session. However, the 18-year-old's session was cut short when he lost control of the car midway through the high-speed Parabolica corner. The car skittered across the gravel trap before making contact with the barrier.
Despite the crash, Antonelli walked away from the incident and was taken to the circuit's medical centre for precautionary checks.
The young talent has been fast-tracked through various junior racing categories by Mercedes over the past two years and is currently competing in Formula 2. Speculations are rife that Antonelli will step into Hamilton's shoes at Mercedes in 2025, as the seven-time world champion is expected to join Ferrari.
This practice session marked Antonelli's first official taste of a Formula One race weekend. Prior to this, he had completed a series of private tests in Mercedes F1 cars from the 2021 and 2022 seasons earlier this year.
Despite the unfortunate spin, Antonelli's potential and the learnings from this experience are likely to shape his future in the top tier of motorsport.
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