P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli has been tipped as a future Formula 1 driver and is believed to be in contention to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year.
Kimi Antonelli had a successful first day of Formula 1 testing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The 17-year-old driver, part of Mercedes’ F1 junior programme, is regarded as a future F1 star due to his strong performances in lower categories. There are talks of Antonelli replacing Lewis Hamilton in 2025 as he moves to Ferrari, with Mercedes’ team principal endorsing him for the position. Antonelli had a private test in the Mercedes W12, the car that won the constructors’ championship in 2021. Despite some snow on the first day, he managed to get plenty of laps done on the second day and enjoyed the experience. Antonelli will continue his racing in Formula 2 next month at Imola. Subscribe to RacingNews365 on YouTube to stay updated on all things Formula 1.
