Teen Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

MONZA, Italy -- Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes beginning in 2025, the team confirmed on Saturday.

Antonelli, 18, a standout from the Mercedes junior academy, has been chosen by team boss Toto Wolff to fill the seat left vacant by seven-time world champion Hamilton, who will join Ferrari.

Speculation around who would partner George Russell next year had been rampant since Hamilton's move to Ferrari was confirmed earlier in the season, with Antonelli increasingly seen as the frontrunner in recent months.

Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Mercedes made the official announcement.

"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," Toto Wolff said in a statement.

Wolff further elaborated, "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. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field."

Antonelli's introduction to F1 has been memorable, albeit not without its challenges. The Italian took over Russell's car for his first practice session but spun into the barrier after just five laps, cutting his debut session short.

Despite the early setback, Wolff remained firm in his decision.

Wolff had delayed making a decision on Hamilton's replacement while pursuing reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Over the summer break, Wolff met with Verstappen's father Jos and agent Raymond Vermeulen but has since cooled on the idea of signing the Red Bull driver for now.

The focus now shifts to nurturing Antonelli's raw talent and integrating him seamlessly into the team alongside Russell, as Mercedes aims to remain competitive at the pinnacle of Formula 1 racing.

Up Next

• Hamilton tops the timesheets in tight FP2 session at Monza, as Magnussen incident triggers red flags
• Verstappen leads first practice as Antonelli crashes on Monza debut

Season-Defining Headlines