Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to make his debut in Formula 1 soon. The 18-year-old Italian will be taking over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes. This puts extra pressure on this protégé of team boss Toto Wolff; stepping into the shoes of a seven-time world champion is no easy task. Antonelli himself emphasizes that he could never replace Hamilton.
After much deliberation, Mercedes announced last summer that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be making his appearance in Formula 1 in 2025. Following the sudden departure of star driver and multiple champion Lewis Hamilton, the German racing team opted for fresh blood. With an eye to the future, the choice fell on 18-year-old Antonelli, a talented Formula 2 debutant from the Mercedes ranks. After a number of – more or less successful – free training sessions, Antonelli will become a full-time driver in 2025 and is expected to fill the void left by Hamilton.
However, Antonelli emphasizes, in the run-up to the test days and the opening race in Melbourne, that he just wants to be the next Mercedes driver. Replacing Hamilton, he says, is not an option. “I just feel like the new Mercedes driver,” he declared during a team event to Sky Sports. “Of course, everyone says I’m here to replace Lewis Hamilton, but I don’t think that’s correct. He’s such a big figure in the sport and has meant so much to people. I’m just the next driver and want to forge my own path.”
The Formula 1 World is Ruthless
Antonelli acknowledges that his first season in Formula 1 will be a baptism of fire. The young Italian only made his debut in Formula 2 last year, having skipped Formula 3. Now, he suddenly finds himself in the spotlight with one of the most respected teams in motorsport. “It won’t be easy,” he explained. “After all, I’m joining the best drivers in the world. Moreover, the Formula 1 world can sometimes be very ruthless.”
Nevertheless, Antonelli is confident of a positive outcome. “I will try to stay focused on myself,” he promised. “I take each day as it comes and will try to prove myself every weekend. Additionally, I will have good people around me who can help me ignore external factors.” At eighteen, Antonelli is by far the youngest driver on the grid. If he wins one of the first three races in Australia, China, or Japan, he will break the current record held by Max Verstappen and become the youngest race winner ever.
