Breaking News: Lewis Hamilton Replaced by Mercedes for Mexico GP Practice After Crash
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has announced that Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the first practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix ¹ ². This decision comes after Hamilton’s crash during the United States Grand Prix, where he spun out of the race in the opening laps [3).
*Antonelli’s Second FP1 Outing*
Antonelli, Mercedes’ 2025 signing, will make his second appearance in an F1 practice session, taking over Hamilton’s car on Friday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez ¹ ². The 18-year-old Italian driver previously made his practice debut at Monza in September but crashed heavily early on ¹[2).
*Mercedes’ Challenge in Mexico*
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged that the team faces a unique challenge in Mexico due to the high altitude, which affects the power unit’s performance ². Wolff expressed his hopes for Antonelli to continue his development on track and contribute to the team’s progress ².
*Hamilton’s Crash Analysis*
Wolff refuted Hamilton’s theory that the recent upgrades caused the car’s erratic performance and crash ³. Instead, Wolff attributed the issues to the interaction between aerodynamic and mechanical factors ³.
*Upcoming Schedule*
The Mexico City Grand Prix will take place from October 25-27, with Antonelli driving Hamilton’s car in the first practice session on Friday ¹ ². Hamilton will return to his car for Practice Two.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Mexico City Grand Prix and the remainder of the F1 season!
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