In Austin, Lewis Hamilton endured one of the toughest weekends of his entire career in terms of performance. The team had high hopes for Lewis, as he was running the latest upgrade package. Meanwhile, George Russell shifted to the old specification due to the unavailability of a new component. However, the Briton had a nightmare qualifying as he failed to enter Q2. To make matters worse, his Sunday race ended on lap 3 after the seven-time world champion beached his W15.
Therefore, the team has decided to replace Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli in FP1 of the Mexican GP. FIA mandates that every F1 team must give a rookie driver two race sessions per season. The Italian prodigy made his first FP1 appearance in Monza, which ended sadly as he crashed on Curva Alboreto. The teenage racer will have another chance to showcase his racing skills in an F1 vehicle. Kimi will take Lewis Hamilton’s seat in 2025 as the Briton leaves for Ferrari. Therefore, this could be an excellent chance for him to acclimate to F1’s pressure.
Kimi Antonelli Ready To Steer W15 In His Second FP1 Session
Kimi Antonelli has already earned a reputation as a racing prodigy. He is set to replace a seven-time world champion. While the pressure of replacing a legendary F1 racer is immense, Antonelli receives full support from Mercedes to handle it. The Silver Arrows sent him surprise gifts, including an F1 car’s steering. It was to help him get accustomed to the buttons on the wheel. Moreover, he has participated in numerous F1 tests conducted by the Brackley-based outfit. Additionally, Antonelli bewilders everyone with his pace and temperament.
Now, he is set to drive the W15 on Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track, known for its high altitude. The teenage prodigy will replace Lewis Hamilton during the FP1 session as he tries to forget the Monza mishap. After Mercedes’ official announcement, Kimi shared a message with his fans, showing excitement for another FP1 session. “I’m looking forward to driving in FP1 and playing my part in helping the team make a good start on track this weekend,” he said.
Kimi Antonelli has exhibited his racing ability for the Prema racing team in F2. With two victories, the Italian youngster has impressed almost every F1 aficionado. He will soon live his dream of steering an F1 car as a permanent team member. However, it would be interesting to see Kimi’s performance, as all eyes would be on the rookie racer.
Italian Grand Prix Or Monza? Kimi’s Choice Of Ultimate Track Triumph
Although both races are home events for the local boy, he has chosen Monza over the Italian GP, expressing his desire to clinch a victory there. Kimi has already performed in Imola across championships but has yet to register a win in his homeland.
With two home races next year, Kimi has picked Monza as his “real home race” as it is just 20-25 minutes away from his home. He even slept at his house during the race weekend, and despite it being weird, he feels at home in Monza.