Kimi Antonelli crashed during the first practice session of the Italian Grand Prix, putting Mercedes in a tight spot as they scramble to repair his car before the next session.
Antonelli, who is set to join the team full-time in 2025, lost control at the Parabolica corner, ending his practice early and requiring a visit to the medical center.
Fortunately, Antonelli emerged uninjured and was cleared to continue. He was driving George Russell's car at the time of the incident.
The crash was significant enough to raise concerns about the car's condition, prompting a quick response from the Mercedes team.
The crash occurred during a crucial floor comparison test, where Antonelli was testing a new car upgrade while teammate Lewis Hamilton was using an older version.
The team was focused on gathering data to improve performance, making the timing of the crash particularly unfortunate.
Mercedes' Chief Communications Officer, Bradley Lord , explained that the team was working hard to assess the damage and get the car ready for the second practice session.
"We are literally just getting the car back. It was a hefty impact at a high-speed corner. Kimi is at the medical centre being checked out, making sure that everything is okay. Then we will assess the car and hopefully have it turned around for FP2,” Lord remarked, highlighting the urgency of this repair.
He emphasized the importance of providing support to Antonelli as he navigates this challenging experience, which is part of the learning process for a young driver.
"We were running a floor comparison, still evaluating the update that we brought to Spa. He had one, Lewis had the other on the other car. Two sets of soft tyres.
"Head on out, enjoy the experience, was the only real advice he was given. It’s unfortunate that it ended the way it did. He was pushing the limit from Lap 1, that’s always good to see. It’s all part of the learning curve,” said Lord.
This is part of Mercedes’ strategic planning to groom him for a future role, especially in light of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.
“Lots of work back at the factory with the engineers in the sim, understanding the changes and how the car works, and everything from a driving point of view.
"He’s done thousands of kilometres this season in a 2022 car in a testing programme. That has also been part of Kimi’s preparation so far,” added Lord.
As the team shifts its focus to repairs, they aim to ensure Antonelli can participate in F2 qualifying later in the day.
The immediate priority is to get the car back in shape and continue their evaluation ahead of the qualifying rounds on Saturday.
Addressing the psychological and emotional aftermath of the crash, Lord continued.
“It’s a high support environment that we need to give him. It changes nothing. It’s part of the learning curve for a young driver. The biggest challenge will be getting him back for F2 qualifying later.”
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