Mercedes has officially announced that teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli will join their Formula One team in 2025, taking over from Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The highly-rated Italian rookie, who has signed a multi-year contract with the Silver Arrows, will partner with George Russell in his debut season.
“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” Antonelli said. “Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy.
I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity and will be focused on delivering the best possible results for the team.”
Antonelli’s promotion follows Hamilton’s surprising decision to join Ferrari next season, ending his 11-year tenure with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion’s departure left a significant vacancy, with top drivers like Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel considered potential replacements.
Ultimately, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had two primary candidates: reigning champion Max Verstappen and Antonelli. While Verstappen remains loyal to Red Bull, Antonelli’s rapid rise through the ranks favoured him.
Antonelli, who turned 18 in August, has already drawn comparisons to Verstappen and Hamilton due to his stellar junior career. He has been with the Mercedes junior program since 2019 and has quickly progressed, winning multiple championships in Formula 4 and Formula Regional European and Middle East series.
This year, he stepped up to Formula 2, where he has impressed with two victories and currently sits seventh in the standings.
As Antonelli gears up for his F1 debut, he expressed his excitement about partnering with Russell, whom he respects and looks forward to learning from. Russell, who will be contracted with Mercedes until the end of 2025, will provide valuable guidance as Antonelli embarks on his Formula One journey.
