Antonelli set to complete "plenty of test" runs with Mercedes in the coming weeks
Formula 2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to complete several test outing with Mercedes as speculations continue to rumble on that the young Italian could make his grand prix debut as early as next year.
The Italian sensation has been in contention for the second Mercedes seat that will become vacant after seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton's departure from the team. The current F2 driver has already completed several test outings with Mercedes 2021 and 2022 F1 cars at the Red Bull Ring, in Imola and in Silverstone.
Antonelli took hist first sprint F2 victory as Silverstone two weeks ago, followed by a commanding drive to win the Hungaroring Feature Race last Sunday.
The Italian, who is yet to turn 18 on the 25th August, will compete in F2 in Belgium this weekend, and will stay at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for a single-day test outing with Mercedes 2022 F1 car.
Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has now revealed that Antonelli will complete several test outing with Mercedes in the coming weeks.
“It's difficult to find opportunities to run a TPC programme because the F1 race calendar is so busy. We haven't got a whole separate team of people that can do that.
“That's one of the realities of the cost cap is that you haven't got the test team that you used to have in years gone by and Kimi is pretty busy with his F2 calendar, which, when you're in Europe, is quite a focus.
“We've got more events planned. We're doing a day with him here in Spa after the weekend. And then we've got other events further into the year, but it's all going well, and the programmes now will drift towards teaching him how you need to refine the approach to qualifying, how you refine the approach to long runs and just trying to get all of that work so he can have a clearer idea of what it is he needs to work on and improve.
“But, it's all going well. And plenty more events are planned," Shovlin was quoted as saying by Autosport.com.
