Antonelli to make F1 weekend debut at Monza as Mercedes confirm FP1 outing for junior star

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that protégé Kimi Antonelli will make his Formula 1 weekend debut on home soil at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, with the youngster being handed a practice run.

Formula 2 racer Antonelli, who turned 18 on Sunday, has been widely tipped to replace Lewis Hamilton as George Russell’s team mate from the 2025 campaign, though Mercedes are yet to formally announce their plans.

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What Wolff has now confirmed, however, is that their junior driver will be given a chance to appear for Mercedes during Friday’s first practice session at Monza next weekend, as one of the two rookie outings teams are required to fulfil each season.

It comes amid a rapid rise for Antonelli, who has impressed on the junior scene via successive titles in Italian F4, ADAC F4, Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European over the last two years.

He is currently competing in F2, where with a solid run of early-season points finishes paved the way for breakthrough Sprint and Feature Race victories at the recent Silverstone and Hungaroring rounds.

Asked at Zandvoort what present Wolff is giving Antonelli for his birthday, and whether it could take the form of an FP1 drive in Italy, Wolff said: “That’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”

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He continued: “It’s going to be a really emotional moment. We’ve followed him since he was 11 and a baby go-kart driver.

“To see him drive out on Friday in FP1, in Monza, in front of the tifosi, having an Italian kid in a competitive car…. I think that will be something that everybody in Italy can be very proud of.”

Stopping short of confirming a promotion for 2025, Wolff signed off: “Then we’ll take it from there.”