Lewis Hamilton has a difficult weekend in Austin. (Image: Getty)
Mercedes have confirmed Lewis Hamilton will be replaced for sprt of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend following his poor showing in America. After spinning out in FP1 and finishing sixth in the Saturday sprint race, Hamilton could only qualify 19th for Sunday’s Grand Prix after exiting in Q1.
He then failed to finish in Austin, crashing out on the third lap.
Team-mate George Russell was sixth, leaving team principal Toto Wolff at a loss to explain the drop in performance of the Silver Arrows.
According to RaceFans, Hamilton will now be replaced in FP1 this week by Andrea Kimi Antonelli. With Wolff said to be ‘puzzled’ at what occurred at the Circuit of Americas, the Austrian also wseemingly wants to closely assess the new upgrades on the W15 cars.
Allowing the 18-year-old to participate will also mean Mercedes fulfilling their obligation to give up one practice session in each of their cars to a junior driver. Antonelli previously participated in FP1 in August at the Italian Grand Prix.
His speed over his first five laps in Monza was enough to impress team personnel. However, his outing was cut short when he lost control of his car and duly spun off the track.
But his latest opportunity at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will also serve as preparation for when he hits the grid full-time in 2025. The Italian will take Hamilton’s seat when he departs for Ferrari at the end of the year.
Antonelli has already underlined his huge potential this season while competing in the FIA Formula 1 Championship. He currently lies sixth in the overall standings, having notched wins in Silverstone and Hungary.
Hamilton has just five Grand Prix races remaining before he ends his 12-year stint at Mercedes. And following his harrowing weekend las time out, he implied it was the track, and not driver error, that caused his DNF,
I had a great start, obviously shot up the inside and got up to 12th,” he said, after returning to the paddock. “At that point, it was only the second lap, so I am not flat out and not pushing particularly, just trying to manage the tyres.
“The car started bouncing on the way in and then it just lost all out of the rear and it just went around on me. I have never spun in the race before, not that I remember at least, so definitely frustrating but I do know that it is not that I was not focussed or anything, it was just unfortunate.”
