Mercedes has officially confirmed that 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton to partner George Russell for the 2025 Formula 1 season, completing a meteoric rise through motorsport’s junior ranks.
“Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed,” said Mercedes Team Principal Toto 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.
“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 joined Mercedes’s junior programme as a 12-year-old in 2019.
After great success in karting, including FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series titles, he graduated to single-seaters – where he stormed to both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022 before claiming the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship.
The Italian stepped up to FIA Formula 2 for 2024 and has handled it superbly, claiming two victories so far this season, including an impressive Feature Race in Budapest.
“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” said the Italian.
“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 feel ready for the opportunity.
“I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.
“I’m also really excited to become George’s team-mate. He came through the team’s junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for.
“He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track.”
Antonelli took to the track for his maiden FP1 session at Monza yesterday but was involved in a high-speed incident at Parabolica just 12 minutes in.
The outing came less than one week after he celebrated his 18th birthday.
Antonelli will make his race debut at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Header Image: Mercedes Content Pool
