Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a Mercedes junior driver, has been making waves in the motorsport world. As a contender for a potential Formula 1 seat in 2025, Antonelli has been getting his first taste of F1 machinery this year. He previously tested the 2021 challenger, the W12, at the Red Bull Ring and then the ground-effect W13 at Imola.
🚨 | Confirmation from Mercedes that Kimi Antonelli's private test programme with the 2022 W13 will continue in Barcelona next week, with Mick Schumacher also driving over the three-day session
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Mercedes has moved to address speculation surrounding the recent private test involving young talents Kimi Antonelli and Mick Schumacher. The team confirmed that Antonelli’s test program with the 2022 W13 will continue next week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Looking ahead, Mercedes will continue its TPC testing program in Barcelona next week. Both Antonelli and Schumacher will drive the W13 (2022 car) during the three-day session. The team emphasizes that these are private tests, and unverified speculation should not lead to conclusions or comparisons that do not reflect the actual purpose of the tests.
Mercedes’s Silverstone Test
Antonelli recently got behind the wheel of the W13 once more during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outing at Silverstone. Joining him were reserve driver Mick Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton’s current teammate, George Russell. However, speculation emerged that this test was a “shootout” to compare Schumacher and Antonelli.
Mercedes has categorically denied that the Silverstone test was a “shootout.” In a team statement, they clarified that each driver completed different programs on different days, under varying track and weather conditions. The intention was not to compare the two drivers directly. Both Antonelli and Schumacher performed exceptionally well, satisfying the team’s expectations.
As the F1 season progresses, all eyes will be on Antonelli and Schumacher. Antonelli, currently competing in Formula 2, has shown promise with several strong finishes. Schumacher, Mercedes’ reserve driver, continues to be a benchmark for young talents. The team’s decision for the 2025 lineup remains eagerly anticipated.
