Speaking earlier in the day, meanwhile, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff told the media that the crash wouldn’t affect Antonelli’s standing within the team, as they hunt for a replacement for Ferrari-bound seven-time champion Hamilton.
“He’s a rookie, he’s very young, we are prepared to invest into his future,” said Wolff. “I think a strong driver needs to recover from these things and cope with the pressure.
WATCH: The story of Antonelli’s first FP1
“You have all these shenanigans around you in Monza: Italian kid that’s been hired, first time in a Mercedes, and that must be a heavy burden. But if he wants to be a champion one day he needs to cope with that, and I have no doubt that he can and he will.
“[The crash has] zero effect [on our opinion of him],” added Wolff. “Most important is to hire based on ability, and an FP1 that’s gone wrong is not the reason why you decide for or against a driver.”
