Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli passes his driving test

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will change seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, has handed his driving take a look at forward of his debut on the pinnacle of motorsport.

Mercedes introduced on the eve of final yr’s Italian Grand Prix that their F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli would change Lewis Hamilton, who had confirmed his departure from the crew again in February.

The Bologna-born driver, who competed in Formulation 2 final season, has accomplished a number of take a look at outings with Mercedes for the reason that Brackley-based outfit introduced his promotion. He first carried out operating with the 2021 F1 Mercedes on the Pink Bull Ring earlier than racking up mileage with the 2022 F1 Mercedes in Imola and in Silverstone.

Antonelli then went on to achieve expertise at Spa in August earlier than finishing his first operating on a race weekend. The 18-year-old took over George Russell’s automotive within the opening apply session on the Italian Grand Prix, however a mistake on his second flying lap noticed him crash into the obstacles on the Parabolica nook.

He then travelled to Mexico, the place he drove Lewis Hamilton’s automotive in FP1 on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the place he admittedly took a calmer strategy to keep away from any mistake.

The Mercedes junior has lately accomplished one other take a look at run, this time at Jerez, racking up laps within the 2021 F1 Mercedes on in the beginning of January in good climate circumstances.

The Italian sensation, who will turn out to be the primary Italian to compete in F1 since Antonio Giovinazzi , has now introduced that he has handed his driving take a look at forward of his debut on the pinnacle of motorsport.