Wolff confirms….will replace Hamilton ahead of Mexican GP following Hamilton’s…
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has confirmed that young driver Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton for the first practice session (FP1) at the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. The news was announced by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who highlighted the unique challenges of racing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez due to Mexico City’s high altitude.
“The altitude in Mexico is a significant factor,” said Wolff. “The power unit must work harder, and we have to run at maximum downforce to combat the thin air. This provides another opportunity for us to evaluate our recent updates.” Wolff noted that Antonelli’s participation will be valuable for both the driver’s development and the team’s data collection as they look to assess their recent performance tweaks. This session will mark Antonelli’s second FP1 appearance, following his debut earlier in the season.
The announcement follows a challenging race weekend for Mercedes at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Despite flashes of competitive pace, the team struggled to translate this into consistent results. Wolff expressed his desire for a quick turnaround in Mexico, stating, “After a tough weekend in Austin, we have the chance to recover immediately. Our car’s performance in Texas demonstrated that there’s potential in the package, but our task now is to unlock this consistently. It’s not a matter of one specific issue, but rather the interaction between the car’s aerodynamic and mechanical components.”
Mercedes is keen to address these challenges over the final five races of the season, aiming to enhance not only their current performance but also to set a strong foundation for the 2025 season. Wolff emphasized the importance of using the remaining races to fine-tune their car and strategy.
For Antonelli, this practice session is another step in his development with the team. His first appearance in Monza earlier this season did not go as planned; he showed initial promise but had a setback when he crashed George Russell’s car early in the session. However, Wolff remains confident in the young Italian’s potential and is eager to see him in action again. In Mexico, Antonelli will be driving the W15, giving him another chance to prove himself at the highest level of motorsport.
Hamilton will return to the cockpit after FP1, resuming his normal duties for the rest of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Mercedes is hoping that this practice session with Antonelli will yield valuable insights, helping them bounce back after a disappointing U.S. Grand Prix.
