Antonelli to join Mercedes in 2025 as Hamilton replacement

Mercedes has confirmed that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will race alongside George Russell next year as Toto Wolff describes it as a ‘strong platform’ for the team’s future.

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

It has been highly speculated and on Saturday it was confirmed that Kimi Antonelli will join the Silver Arrows team next season. The Italian driver will replace the departing seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton who heads to Ferrari next season. 

The Bologna-born driver has taken part in the team’s TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) tests and got his first taste of F1 action on Friday, in Monza, as part of the sports FP1 rookie drivers. 

However, a crash early on in FP1 ended his time prematurely in front of his home crowd. 

When the Italian driver steps out onto the grid next year, he will become the third youngest driver in F1 history at 18 years and 203 days old, behind both Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. 

“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” said Antonelli. “Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they’ve given me in my career so far and the faith they’ve shown in me.

“I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.”

Antonelli has a reputable racing history having raced to both ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022 before claiming the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023. 

He currently races in Formula 2 having jumped over Formula 3 in the feeder series and will graduate from the team’s junior programme to sit alongside Russell, who also graduated from the Mercedes junior programme.

“Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed,” commented Wolff. “We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. 

“Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme and our belief in home-grown talent.

“George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport.

“We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process.”

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Hamilton quickest in Italian GP FP2 after Magnussen crash
• Verstappen tops FP1 in Italian GP as Antonelli crashes
• F1 Safety Car involved in bizarre Monza accident
• Has the writing been on the wall since Australia for Logan Sargeant?
• Albon leaves supporting message to Sargeant following drop
• Williams F1 replace Logan Sargeant ahead of Italian GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.