Mercedes has arranged for Kimi Antonelli, one of their most promising young drivers, to conduct a two-day test in Austria starting April 16th. He'll be driving the 2021 W12 to get a feel for the car's dynamics. This is the first step in a series of F1 tests planned for the 17-year-old this year, running alongside his current campaign in Formula 2 with Prema Racing as the team prepares him for an eventual promotion.
Mercedes is keeping a close eye on Antonelli's performance this year as they look to fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton starting in 2025. Depending on how he evolves, the team might look into a placement with a customer team or decide he needs another season of F2 experience, given that he skipped the F3 level entirely after his time in the Formula Regional European Championship.
After a difficult opening weekend in Bahrain, Antonelli showed his potential in Melbourne, finishing fourth in the feature race after qualifying second, which pushed him up to ninth in the overall standings. His Prema teammate, Oliver Bearman, also caught the spotlight after scoring his first Ferrari point during a high-profile F1 debut in Jeddah. Since the F2 series is on break until the May round at Imola, Antonelli has a clear window to focus on his F1 preparations. Currently, the championship lead is held by Rodin and Sauber junior Zane Maloney, followed by Paul Aron and Dennis Hauger.
Regarding the open seat for 2025, Toto Wolff mentioned to Fox Sports Australia in Melbourne that he isn't in a rush to decide. He noted that the choice depends heavily on Max Verstappen's future moves. Wolff explained that the team is considering a variety of paths, ranging from an exceptionally gifted young talent to a seasoned veteran, and emphasized that a final decision won't be made in the coming weeks or months while he continues to monitor the market.
Under current regulations, F1 teams can test cars using 2022-spec tech, which is much closer to modern designs; this means Antonelli could eventually test the W13. In other news, Liberty Media has expanded its sporting portfolio by acquiring MotoGP for £3.6 billion. The company, which has owned F1 since 2017, purchased approximately 86% of Dorna Sports from the Spanish firm, while Dorna's current management will keep the remaining stake.
Meanwhile, Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One, has bought MotoGP for £3.6 billion. The US media corporation, which acquired F1 in 2017, has purchased MotoGP from Dorna Sports, a Spanish firm that has owned the motorcycle championship since 1992. Liberty will purchase around 86% of Dorna, with Dorna’s management maintaining the remainder of the firm.