Mercedes clarifies Antonelli and Schumacher 'shootout' rumours

Mercedes has clarified that a recent test using old machinery conducted by George Russell, Mick Schumacher and Andrea Kimi Antonelli was not a "shootout", following an incorrect rumour. 

At the beginning of the month, Russell, Schumacher and Mercedes' teenage sensation drove the side's 2022 car in a private test at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix.

Private Testing of Previous Cars (known as TPCs) are very common in F1 and are strictly private, with no information being shared. Nevertheless, a rumour still circulated after the running at Silverstone. 

A rumour – which has been clarified as completely false – speculated that the test was a head-to-head between Schumacher and Antonelli, to see who would receive Lewis Hamilton's seat in 2025. 

Mercedes has now responded to the rumour, with a spokesperson having stated: "Our most recent TPC test (Testing of Previous Car) in Silverstone included, Mick, Kimi and George. 

"It was incorrectly labelled a 'shootout', which was neither the intention nor the findings of the running.

"It's important to understand that each driver completed different programmes, on different days, in different track and weather conditions.

"Unfortunately, unverified speculation has led to conclusions and comparisons being published that do not reflect what happened."

Next test

Mercedes has been very pleased with the work conducted by Schumacher and Antonelli, with the latter in particular still being just 17 years old. 

The PREMA F2 driver is not able to obtain a superlicence to race in F1 until he is 18 years old, an age he will turn on the race day of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Both drivers will be back in action next week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where they will again be testing the W13 which won the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix at the hands of Russell.

Mercedes' spokesperson continued: "Both Mick and Kimi have done an excellent job delivering their respective programmes, to the complete satisfaction of the team, we are looking forward to three busy days of running next week, too."