Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to make history as the third youngest Formula 1 driver of all time. Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025, Mercedes has confirmed that Antonelli, who recently turned 18, will take Hamilton’s place, becoming George Russell’s teammate for the upcoming season.
Antonelli made his Mercedes debut during the practice session at the Italian Grand Prix, but unfortunately, the young driver crashed early in the session, slightly dampening the celebratory mood. Despite this setback, he is poised to make his competitive debut at the season-opener in Australia next March at the remarkable age of 18 years and 203 days, securing his place in F1 history alongside the likes of Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll as one of the youngest competitors in the sport.
Mercedes has been diligently preparing Antonelli for his rapid ascension in the sport, including various training regimens, testing with older Mercedes cars, and continuous F1 practice sessions for the remainder of the season.
Although there were initial talks regarding a possible mid-season switch to Williams, Mercedes decided that Antonelli’s development would be best served by completing his Formula 2 campaign with Prema Racing and continuing his testing program with the team.
Looking ahead, both Antonelli’s and Russell’s contracts are set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, leaving Mercedes with decisions to make as they prepare for the new F1 regulations in 2026. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, has expressed a desire to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull and has engaged in discussions with the world champion’s management over the summer, signaling an exciting period of potential changes and negotiations in the world of Formula 1.
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