Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed dramatically in his F1 practice debut for Mercedes as Max Verstappen was fastest in the opening session at the Italian Grand Prix.
Italian teenager Antonelli, who is expected to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for 2025, drives George Russell’s car and there are high expectations of his first official F1 appearance.
But just 10 minutes into the session, he lost control of the car in the final corner at the high-speed Monza circuit.
Antonelli hit a snag when his car spun nearly 360 degrees into the tire wall, with Mercedes facing a race to complete the second practice round at 4pm on Friday – live on Sky Sports F1.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff immediately told the 18-year-old “everything is fine” on the radio after the crash, with Antonelli later being discharged from the medical centre.
“This is not how he wants the first 12 minutes of his F1 career,” said Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok.
“He started to turn and then just got a massive snap of oversteer at the apex. I wonder if I got a gust of wind or something like that.
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Karun Chandhok sees what drivers are struggling at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza after laps from Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz, and Franco Colapinto.
“It’s difficult. I’ve been shunted as a reserve driver and you feel pain, you feel shame, you feel like you’ve let the team down.
“I think psychologically that will be a kick. I think he will have another partner, probably Mexico and Abu Dhabi. , so it will be difficult for him.”
Verstappen started the weekend as well
Championship leader Verstappen made a strong start to the Italian Grand Prix weekend as he was two tenths quicker than Charles Leclerc in his upgraded Ferrari.
After losing the Dutch Grand Prix to Lando Norris by almost 23 seconds just five days ago, Red Bull looked better at the newly relaunched Monza, which has seen some flat curbs.
Red Bull has struggled with bumps and kerbs, so a change of track can help the car as Verstappen looks to stop Norris from eating into the 70-point lead in the driver’s standings.
Norris was 0.241s behind Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz in fourth and Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas surprisingly fifth.
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Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz provides an update on Ferrari’s big upgrade from the Italian Grand Prix pit lane as they look for victory in their next race.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished sixth in the session ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Alex Albon, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton is competing in the final Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes before joining Ferrari next year and admitted on Thursday that he felt different at the weekend.
Williams’ Franco Colapinto was 17th in the first session since replacing Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season. Colapinto had a clean first practice until the end, when the Argentine ran through the gravel in the final corner but avoided the wall.
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James Vowles says letting go of Logan Sargeant was one of the hardest decisions he had to make.
Italian GP schedule live Sky Sports F1
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Take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments that happened at the Italian Grand Prix.
Friday, August 30
13.55: Qualifying F3
14.50: Qualifying F2
15.45: Italian GP Practice Two (session starts at 16.00)
17.15: F1 event
Saturday August 31st
8.25: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Italian GP Qualification
3pm: ITALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Sunday September 1st
7:30: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
16:00: Checkered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2024 Formula 1 season continues with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
