After a highly disappointing weekend in Melbourne, Mercedes is moving on and getting back to work and on the track this coming weekend. We know the race weekend is still two weeks away. However, the Brackley-based outfit has booked the F1 track in Imola for a little practice session but not for their current drivers. Mercedes has booked the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari for Kimi Antonelli.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli became a popular name around the F1 circles soon after Lewis Hamilton’s announcement. The Italian has been a Mercedes junior driver since 2019 and he recently skipped F3 to join F2 to fast-track his graduation to F1. Mercedes has been supporting his career and now prepping him for his eventual rise to F1. This is exactly why the Silver Arrows have booked the Imola circuit for the upcoming Friday and Saturday, according to a report by Formula Passion.

Mercedes will test Antonelli’s skills in the team’s worst car in the past decade and their first challenger in the ground effects era, the 2022 W13. The 28-year-old will be hard at work and getting two days of testing on the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit as F2 is on a break after following the circus for the first three races.

F2 will resume its racing rounds in mid-May, starting from the Italian GP, in Imola. So even though the Italian will get his racing chance on the track in his category, he will test his skills out on home turf in the troubled Mercedes car as well.

A test that might turn his fortunes around after a slow start to life in F2 and in turn open the doors to his F1 entry a little sooner. However, even if Mercedes doesn’t sign the youngster for the upcoming season, there are suggestions that he will be prepped in Williams for the future.

Kimi Antonelli will be prepped in Williams for an eventual Mercedes promotion

Thanks to their continued and long-lasting relationship, Williams has subtly become Mercedes’ sister team. We have seen the past two Mercedes drivers get a promotion from Williams. Now, with James Vowles as the team’s principal, the working relationship has never been stronger. This is exactly why experts on the Formel1.de YouTube channel suggested Antonelli will be groomed in Williams for Mercedes.

“If Verstappen were to switch to Mercedes, that would mean okay, there is no room for [Kimi] Antonelli in the future,” said the host. “And we found out today that James Vowles, the Williams team boss, apparently already has an agreement in the event that Verstappen goes to Mercedes, it should happen that Antonelli can be parked at Williams for as long as necessary, preparations are already being made for that. This change of Max Verstappen to Mercedes which doesn’t mean that it will happen but Mercedes is doing everything to be prepared should this opportunity arise.”

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Williams also has an empty seat for 2025, so we might just scenario come to life. A promotion to F1 this early won’t be a bad thing either, with the Italian showing great promise. Let’s see if Antonelli can make his mark in the highly anticipated and chaotic silly season.

F1 News: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to Drive Drive Mercedes F1 Cars in 2024 Amid Lewis Hamilton Exit