F1 News: Andrea Kimi Antonelli chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

A long-awaited promotion is now official.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will drive for Mercedes in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

When legendary driver Lewis Hamilton made the shock decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, speculation abounded over who would be given the chance to secure one of the most coveted seats in motorsport. While some within Mercedes may have been hoping to poach Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, talk quickly turned to the young phenom shooting up through the single-seater ranks.

Antonelli – who just celebrated his 18th birthday – stepped up to the F2 ranks this season after racing in the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023, skipping F3 altogether. Although his F2 season for Prema started slowly, Antonelli recently took two wins, first in the F2 Sprint Race at the British Grand Prix and then in the F2 Feature Race at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

He is currently sixth in the F2 drivers’ championship.

The young driver has also taken part in several test sessions for Mercedes, including a recent spin in the W13 after the Belgian Grand Prix. Antonelli also drove in FP1 at Friday’s Italian Grand Prix, where he set a thundering first lap.

His second lap ended in the guardrail after a spin at the Parabolica.

That didn’t derail the team’s plans to put him in the car next season.

“Our driver line-up for 2025 combines experience, talent, youth and raw speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team, both as individual drivers and as a partnership,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “Our new line-up is perfect for opening 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 proven himself to be one of the very best drivers in the world. Not only is he fast, consistent and determined, but he has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed required to compete at the top of our sport,” Wolff added. “We know it will be a big step up again, but he has impressed us during his F1 testing this year and we will support him every step of the way as he learns. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from whom he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will make a big contribution as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field.”

Antonelli called the promotion a “great feeling” and praised his future teammate Russell.

“It’s a great feeling to be announced as a Mercedes factory driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching Formula 1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a little boy; I want to thank the team for the support they have given me so far in my career and the confidence they have shown in me. I’m still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity,” said Antonelli. “I will focus on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.

“I’m also really excited to be George’s team-mate. Like me, he’s come through the team’s junior programme and is someone I have huge respect for,” Antonelli added. “He’s super fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner and has already helped me improve as a driver. I’m looking forward to learning from him and working together to perform on track.”