Mercedes have emphatically moved to clarify speculation surrounding a recent test involving Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Mick Schumacher. The trio got behind the W13 at Silverstone for a Testing of Previous Cars outing, raising anticipation that Antonelli could replace Lewis Hamilton next season.

Team principal Toto Wolff has repeatedly talked up Antonelli and the 17-year-old has been tipped for a big future in Formula One, with many believing that he could replace the seven-time world champion when Hamilton departs for Ferrari next season.

That strain of thought was only given more encouragement when the young Italian was put forward to test Mercedes’ previous F1 cars, giving Antonelli the chance to showcase his ability if he were to step up from F2 next season.

But Mercedes have released a statement confirming that despite being a contender to replace Hamilton, Antonelli’s recent testing was not a “shootout” between the teen and Schumacher for the soon-to-be-vacant seat.

“Our next TPC (Testing of Previous Car) test will be held in Barcelona next week with Mick and Kimi driving the W13 (2022 car),” the statement read. “Perhaps understandably, given these are private tests, there has been a lot of speculation around their purpose and content.

“Our most recent TPC test 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. Both Mick and Kimi have done an excellent job delivering their respective programmes, to the complete satisfaction of the team, and we are looking forward to three busy days of running next week, too.”

Mercedes’ options to succeed Hamilton next year are dwindling after the prospect of Carlos Sainz heading in the opposite direction to the Brit was quashed. Hamilton himself tipped Antonelli to take the seat, but there have been fears that a step up to the Silver Arrows would come too soon.

Wolff previously cautioned that he had talked up Antonelli’s potential too often, but is “keen and happy” for him to make the step up to F1 after his debut F2 season this year with PREMA Racing.

“I’m really keen and happy to see him in a Formula 1 car,” Wolff said before Antonelli’s Red Bull Ring test in April. “He’s been with us since he was 11. I have a picture of him standing next to me on the centre console as a baby boy in go-karting, and now to witness that development into a Formula 1 driver is something that I’m really proud of.”