P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make a jump to a full-time F1 seat next year at Mercedes.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed that he does not harbor guilt over Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s swift rise to Formula 1, as the Italian will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year without having competed in FIA Formula 3 but directly entering Formula 2 at 18 years old. Antonelli, a promising talent long supported by Mercedes, faced pressure in his FP1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix, where a crash cut his session short. Wolff acknowledged the challenges Antonelli faces at such a young age but emphasized the need for him to persevere and learn in order to grow as a driver. Despite the setbacks, Wolff highlighted Antonelli’s performance potential but noted that he must learn to adapt to the demands of Formula 1.
