Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli to test W13 at Spa after Belgian GP

This upcoming test will to be a significant milestone in Antonelli's journey as he continues to be evaluated by Mercedes for a potential full-time race seat.

The 17-year-old Italian has already completed four Testing of Previous Car (TPC) sessions in the 2021 W12 and the 2022 W13. His previous runs took him to Austria, Imola, Barcelona, and Silverstone.

Spa is scheduled to be the next venue where Antonelli will pilot the W13, as Mercedes assess his readiness for a future race seat, possibly as soon as next season should he replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari, or in 2026.

Antonelli's candour about his progress was evident after he claimed his maiden F2 feature race victory in Hungary.

He admitted that despite his success, he felt he was still in the learning phase of his F2 career and not yet ready for the rigours of Formula 1. "I'm still adapting and making mistakes," he said. "There's a lot to learn before I can step up to F1."

Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' trackside engineering director, addressed the media regarding Antonelli's TPC programme. Shovlin acknowledged the challenges of running these tests amidst a busy F1 calendar and under the constraints of the cost cap.

"It's challenging to find time for these tests," Shovlin explained. "The F1 race calendar is packed, and with the cost cap limiting resources, we don't have the extensive test team we once had."

Shovlin also highlighted that Antonelli's busy F2 schedule added another layer of complexity. Despite these hurdles, Shovlin remained positive about Antonelli's development.

"We're doing a day with him here in Spa after the weekend, and we have other events planned further into the year," he revealed.

"The aim is to refine his approach to qualifying and long runs. It's all about helping him understand what he needs to improve and how to prepare effectively."

The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, which is set to be the 14th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, will to be held over 44 laps of the 7,004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, July 28. Following the race, Antonelli's test drive is anticipated to provide further insights into his capabilities and potential for future F1 roles.

With Spa's challenging layout offering a true test of skill, this opportunity looks to be a key part of Mercedes' plan to prepare Antonelli for the next steps in his career.