# Mercedes Swap Engine to Check Antonelli's Speed

> Mercedes swapped Antonelli's engine to verify his Formula 4 speed without advantage.
- Title: Mercedes Swap Engine to Check Antonelli's Speed · RaceFans
- Summary: Mercedes swapped Antonelli's engine to verify his Formula 4 speed without advantage. Mercedes confirmed Antonelli's Formula 4 speed was genuine after…
- Keywords: andrea kimi antonelli, formula 4, mercedes, young driver, engine swap, formula regional european championship, sports, cars, Swap, Engine, Check, Antonelli's
- Source: RaceFans — https://racefans.net/2026/10/08/antonelli-was-so-quick-in-formula-4-mercedes-swapped-his-engine-to-check
- Published: 2026-10-08T10:13:09+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: andrea kimi antonelli, formula 4, mercedes, f1, young driver, engine swap, formula regional european championship, sports, cars
## Mercedes checked Antonelli's speed
Mercedes swapped Antonelli's engine to verify his Formula 4 speed without advantage.
## Antonelli's Formula 4 performance
Antonelli won 13 out of 22 races in Formula 4 before winning the Formula Regional European Championship.
## Mercedes team principal explains
Williams team principal James Vowles said Antonelli had a two-and-a-half tenths gap over rivals in his first full Formula 4 season.
## Engine swap test
Mercedes swapped engines to confirm Antonelli's performance wasn't due to car advantage.
## Antonelli's F1 progress
Antonelli moved directly to F2 after Formula 4 with Mercedes accelerating his F1 progression.
## Antonelli's current F1 lead
Antonelli holds an 84-point lead over George Russell with seven rounds remaining in F1.
## Key takeaway

Mercedes confirmed Antonelli's Formula 4 speed was genuine after swapping engines to ensure no advantage.