Mercedes Clarifies Antonelli and Schumacher’s Silverstone Test: Not a 2025 Line-up Shootout

Mercedes dismisses allegations regarding Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Mick Schumacher competing in "shootout" trials

Mercedes refutes allegations that Andrea Kimi Antonelli participated in "shootout" Formula 1 trials.

Mercedes has clarified that the recent Formula 1 trials featuring Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Mick Schumacher were mistakenly described as a "shootout."

Recently, Antonelli, George Russell, and substitute Mick Schumacher participated in a confidential trial with Mercedes at Silverstone. There were rumors indicating this event could serve as a decisive trial to establish the team's roster of drivers for the 2025 season.

It is thought that 17-year-old Formula 2 driver Antonelli, who is highly regarded, is the leading candidate to fill the vacancy at Mercedes next season left by Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari. The talented Italian has participated in numerous test sessions in Mercedes F1 equipment.

A recent trial at Silverstone gained significant interest when it was described as a 'shootout', however, Mercedes maintains that this was not the purpose or the outcome of the exercise.

"A spokesperson for the Mercedes team emphasized that it's crucial to recognize that the drivers each undertook varied programs, across various days, under differing track and weather circumstances."

"Regrettably, baseless conjecture has resulted in the dissemination of conclusions and analyses that fail to accurately represent the events that occurred."

Next week in Barcelona, Antonelli and Schumacher will be taking the controls of Mercedes' W13, the car from the 2022 season.

“Mick and Kimi have both performed exceptionally well in executing their specific tasks, fully meeting the team's expectations. We are also eagerly anticipating a hectic schedule of activities in the upcoming week,” Mercedes stated.

Skipping Formula 3 to directly ascend to F2 after clinching the Formula 4 championship, Antonelli presently holds the sixth spot in the 2024 driver rankings. He is trailing the frontrunner Paul Aron by 32 points.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff recently conceded that he might have erred in excessively praising Antonelli.

"Wolff expressed at Imola that they have been enthusiastically promoting the young man for quite some time, believing he will eventually become an outstanding Formula 1 driver."

"However, he is only 17 years old. Just over a year ago, he was behind the wheel of an F4 car [Antonelli's most recent F4 race was 19 months prior], and the anticipation in Italy is incredibly high. We also bear some responsibility for discussing him at that time."

"It's best to allow him to focus on his Formula 2 endeavors and achieve outcomes without getting overly caught up in what might or ought to happen."

Observe George Russell's trajectory – he clinched victories in F3 (previously known as GP3, as shown in the image above) and F2 during his first year. Concurrently, Kimi has shown impressive performances in the junior series and currently competes in F2, so his future progress remains to be seen.

"He's destined for Formula 1 eventually, but let’s not hurry the process."

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