The Mercedes team did not try to keep it a secret for long, with the announcement coming in the most appropriate way. During the Italian GP, after the debut in FP1 and although it was not successful at all, Mercedes confirmed that their Italian driver academy member, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, will drive for them in 2025, filling the gap left by Lewis Hamilton‘s departure to Ferrari.
The 18-year-old is entering the pinnacle of motorsport with an impressive record and a streak of championship seasons in the lower categories, having won every championship he has participated in. He secured two consecutive European karting championships in 2020 and 2021, moving to Formula 4 cars the following year.
In 2022, he won both the ADAC F4 and the Italian F4, while 2023 was another double championship season, with the Italian winning the FRECA in both the Middle East and Europe. He bypassed Formula 3, which is the natural progression for most drivers after Formula 4, to find himself in Formula 2 in 2024, with the assistance and support of Mercedes.
There, he has achieved two victories, two podiums, and four fastest laps and is currently in sixth place in the drivers’ standings. At the same time, he has been assigned the role of Mercedes test driver in Formula 1 for 2024. Although his debut at the top of single-seater racing did not go as he or the team had hoped, Antonelli shows signs of being a driver who will be in the spotlight for many years to come.
Regarding his new contract, the young Italian stated: “It’s an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching Formula 1 has been a dream I’ve had since I was a child. I want to thank the team for the support they have given me in my career so far and for the trust they have shown in me. I continue to learn a lot, but I feel ready for this opportunity.
“I will focus on becoming better and bringing the best possible results for the team. I am also very excited to become George’s teammate. He climbed up from the team’s young driver program, just like I did, and he is someone I really respect. He is very fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I can’t wait to learn from him and work together to deliver on the track.”
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