Kimi Antonelli has been confirmed as the new driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, stepping in to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari after 11 years with Mercedes. Antonelli, an 18-year-old rookie, will join George Russell as his teammate for the 2025 season.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari has had a significant shakeup throughout the Formula 1 paddock, leading to speculation about his successor at Mercedes. With Hamilton's departure from the team announced earlier in the season, Mercedes had to find a replacement for the seven-time world champion. Although other names, like Max Verstappen, were considered, Mercedes ultimately chose Antonelli, who has been developing within their junior program.
Antonelli's journey to Formula 1
Kimi Antonelli's rise through the junior ranks has been impressive. He first made a name for himself in karting before moving on to win the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022. In 2023, he continued his progression by winning the Formula Regional European Championship. Antonelli's trajectory was unusual, as he skipped Formula 3 entirely, moving directly to Formula 2 in 2024 with PREMA Racing.
Despite being one of the youngest drivers in Formula 2, Antonelli quickly adapted, securing two wins and consistently scoring points. He currently stands sixth in the championship. Alongside his Formula 2 campaign, Antonelli has been actively involved in Mercedes' testing programs, gaining experience in older-spec Formula 1 cars.
Mercedes' decision to promote Antonelli
Mercedes announced Antonelli's promotion just before the Italian Grand Prix, following his FP1 debut at Monza. Although his session was cut short by a crash after five laps, Antonelli recovered well and later qualified sixth in Formula 2 that day.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff mentioned that the decision to promote Antonelli was made soon after Hamilton informed the team of his departure. The official announcement dropped just one day before the Monza race, confirming that the young Italian driver would indeed step into the seat vacated by Hamilton.
"I made up my mind five minutes after Lewis Hamilton told me he was going to Ferrari," Wolff said. "Obviously, we were discussing other options, and the idea of Max [Verstappen] couldn't be discounted completely, especially given the situation at Red Bull, but instinctively, this is the line-up I always wanted."
Antonelli, who has been part of the Mercedes junior program for several years, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. "Reaching Formula 1 has been my dream since I was a small boy," Antonelli said. "I'm thankful for the support from the team and the confidence they've shown in me. I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm ready to take on the challenge and deliver for the team."
With Antonelli's promotion, both Mercedes 2025 drivers will have come through the team's junior program. George Russell, set for his fourth season with Mercedes, spoke positively about his new teammate: "Kimi's achievements in the junior categories are impressive, and he's earned this promotion. I'm looking forward to working with him and helping him through his first season in Formula 1."
The 2025 driver market
Now that Antonelli at Mercedes is confirmed, the driver market for the 2025 season is beginning to take shape. Two seats remain unfilled: one at Stake Kick F1 Team, soon to be rebranded as Audi in 2026, and the other at Visa Cash App RB. Experienced drivers like Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, and Valtteri Bottas are currently without a seat.
