Rookie Antonelli to follow Hamilton's advice

Dominika Jordan
Feb 19, 2025, 12:11 PM ET

Rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli takes Lewis Hamilton's advice to heart.

In a season filled with high expectations, rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli plans to heed Lewis Hamilton's valuable advice as he steps into the spotlight, replacing the seven-time world champion at Mercedes.

Antonelli is set to make his debut at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, marking the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Antonelli’s journey is nothing short of a dream realized. At just eight years old, he first experienced the thrill of an F1 paddock, thanks to some clever sneaking by his racing driver father. Now, there will be no hiding as he prepares to tackle the pressures of his debut season.

Freshly armed with his driving license, which he earned just last month, Antonelli will focus on following Hamilton’s guidance to shut out external noise. "He said mainly to enjoy, not worrying about the external circumstances -- just work on yourself, enjoy the process. That was the main thing he said," Antonelli shared, reflecting on Hamilton's advice that helped him achieve a remarkable rookie season in 2007.

Antonelli is clear about his approach: start strong and then build steadily. "I think the key point is just starting on the right foot, on the right path. I feel like what he did really well is starting off well and then keep developing without trying to do too much. That's why he did an amazing season and that's what I'm going to try to do. So just enjoy, work hard," he emphasized.

Hamilton's four wins in his debut season with McLaren saw him finish as runner-up to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, setting the stage for his first title win the following year. Antonelli, sharing a name but not named after the Finnish icon, aims to carve out his own legacy in the sport.

Italy, long a passionate hub for motorsport with iconic circuits like Monza and Imola, hasn't seen a native F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The last Italian to win a grand prix was Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006, and no Italian has competed in F1 since Antonio Giovinazzi in 2021.

Many fans have expressed a desire to see Antonelli in a Ferrari, but the young driver is committed to Mercedes. "I'm not going to lie, many Italian fans or friends, they've told me 'Oh, we would like to see you in a Ferrari.' But to be honest I'm very happy where I am," Antonelli said. "I've been with this team for so long now, since 2018, and they became my second family. I probably see more of them than my actual family. And I think it's going to be a good story ... I think in a little bit they [Italians] will like seeing an Italian driver in a Mercedes."

Entering the paddock in Melbourne as an official driver is bound to be a surreal experience for Antonelli. He admitted, "I'm going to realize more and more that this is actually real. The moment where I will realize for real will be Melbourne."

As the 2025 season kicks off, all eyes will be on Andrea Kimi Antonelli to see if he can follow in the illustrious footsteps of his predecessor and bring fresh pride to Italy in the world of Formula 1.