Andrea Kimi Antonelli dramatically crashed out on his F1 observe debut for Mercedes as Max Verstappen was quickest within the opening session on the Italian Grand Prix.
Italian teenager Antonelli, who is anticipated to switch Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for 2025, was driving George Russell’s automotive and there was enormous anticipation about his first official F1 look.
However simply 10 minutes into the session, he misplaced management of his automotive on the closing nook on the high-speed Monza circuit.
Antonelli hit the limitations laborious as his automotive spun practically 360 levels into the tyre wall, with Mercedes going through a race to get every thing fastened for second observe at 4pm on Friday – stay on Sky Sports activities F1.
Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff instantly informed the 18-year-old “it’s all good” on the radio after his accident, with Antonelli later cleared from the medical centre.
“That is not how he would have wanted to have the first 12 minutes of his F1 career go,” reacted Sky Sports activities F1’s Karun Chandhok.
“He began to show in after which simply will get a large snap of oversteer on the apex. I ponder if he bought a gust of wind or one thing like that.
“It’s tough. I’ve had a shunt as a reserve driver and you feel the pain, you feel the embarrassment, you feel like you’ve let the team down.
“I feel psychologically that will likely be a little bit of a kick. I feel he’ll have a pair extra goes, most likely Mexico and Abu Dhabi. However there’s not many races left the place we’ve not bought a Dash or it isn’t a avenue observe, so it is a powerful one for him.”
Verstappen begins weekend properly
Championship chief Verstappen made a robust begin to the Italian Grand Prix weekend as he was two tenths faster than Charles Leclerc within the upgraded Ferrari.
Having misplaced the Dutch Grand Prix to Lando Norris by practically 23 seconds simply 5 days in the past, Crimson Bull look a lot better on the newly resurfaced Monza, which has seen a few of the kerbs flattened out.
Crimson Bull have struggled with bumps and kerbs, so the observe modifications might assist their automotive as Verstappen appears to cease Norris from consuming into his 70-point lead within the driver standings.
Norris was 0.241s behind Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz in fourth and Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas surprisingly in fifth.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the session in sixth from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Alex Albon, Crimson Bull’s Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton is competing in his closing Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes earlier than he joins Ferrari subsequent yr and admitted on Thursday that he is felt totally different coming into the weekend.
Williams’ Franco Colapinto was seventeenth in his first session since changing Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season. Colapinto had a clear first observe till the very finish, when the Argentine ran by the gravel on the closing nook however averted the wall.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Italian GP schedule
Friday August 30
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Italian GP Observe Two (session begins 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Present
Saturday August 31
8.25am: F3 Dash
11.15am: Italian GP Observe Three (session begins 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Dash
2.15pm: Italian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday September 1
7:30am: F3 Function Race
9am: F2 Function Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: The ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP response
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally stay on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion
The 2024 System 1 season continues with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime