Mercedes is getting ready for a two-day test starting from April 16th for their talented young driver in Austria. During this test, the 17-year-old will drive the 2021 Mercedes W12 car. This will be his first test in Formula 1, and he has more tests planned for this year. Mercedes wants him to be ready for Formula 1 in the future. He’s also racing in the Formula 2 championship with Prema.
Antonelli might move up to Formula 1, depending on how well he does this year. Mercedes has a spot open for the 2025 season and beyond, as Lewis Hamilton’s seat is empty. They might also place Antonelli with another team or let him continue in Formula 2 for another season. Antonelli skipped Formula 3 and went straight to Formula 2 from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
After a tough weekend for his team, Prema, in Bahrain, Antonelli did better in Melbourne. He finished fourth in the feature race, moving up to ninth place in the standings. His teammate, Oliver Bearman, also had a good debut in Formula 2 after racing for Ferrari in Jeddah.
Formula 2 won’t have races again until May, so Antonelli has time for his Formula 1 test.
Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, said they are not rushing to fill the vacant seat for 2025. They have various options, from young talents to experienced drivers. They want to see what Max Verstappen decides before making their decision.
In Formula 1 testing, teams can use cars from the previous year. This means Antonelli might also get a chance to test Mercedes’ 2022 W13 car in the future.