Antonelli believes that replacing Hamilton is “impossible”
Kimi Antonelli spoke about his preparation for the pressure that comes with his integration into Formula 1 from 2025, while stating that he does not want to be seen as the "replacement" for Lewis Hamilton within the Mercedes team.
At just 18 years old, Antonelli will take the place left vacant by Hamilton, who will join Ferrari, and will thus form a duo with George Russell for the next season at Mercedes. This news was revealed one day after the young driver made his F1 debut, taking the wheel of Russell’s W15 during free practice 1 in Monza last August. Unfortunately, his first track experience was short-lived, as he hit a wall after only ten minutes on the track.
A young driver well surrounded
Despite this setback, Antonelli shows great confidence in his ability to handle the pressure of F1. One of the key elements to facing this pressure is knowing that you have a team like Mercedes who really supports you. “They believed in me from the very beginning,” he said, emphasizing the trust that the team has in him.
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He also mentioned the importance of the support he receives: « This support is crucial to me. Even if sometimes I am not able to handle the pressure as I would like, I can always count on the support of Mercedes and my family. I am extremely grateful to be with them and for all the support they have provided me, both in the past and today. »
I am simply the next Mercedes driver.
Antonelli’s situation is all the more attention-grabbing as he is set to succeed Hamilton, who won six titles with the German team between 2014 and 2020. The Italian was full of praise when talking about the Brit: “He is truly great person who has supported me, and I am very grateful to him.” However, Antonelli is not putting pressure on himself regarding the responsibilities that come with this new challenge for him.
When asked how he felt about succeeding such a champion, Antonelli confidently states: “Replacing Lewis Hamilton is impossible. He is an iconic figure in our sport, having achieved so much. I do not want to be seen as his replacement, I am simply the next driver for Mercedes in 2025, and I am extremely excited about it.”
Before making his full debut in Formula 1, Antonelli will continue his private testing program with Mercedes, while still finishing his current season in Formula 2, where he currently holds sixth place in the driver standings.
