Mercedes-AMG F1 Team has just announced that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be George Russell’s new teammate from 2025, with the 18-year-old Italian coming from F2 and the German team’s driver academy, to replace Lewis Hamilton who will run in Ferrari colours.
The announcement came on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix and just a day after Antonelli made his FP1 season debut with the team at Monza. Antonelli had an amazing career in the junior divisions, rising quickly through the ranks. After winning German and Italian F4 in 2022 and the regional European championship in 2023, the Mercedes driver skipped F3 and entered F2 with the Prema team this season.
In his statements, Toto Wolff, head and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, commented:
Our driver duo for 2025 combines experience, talent, youth and unparalleled speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers and as a partnership. Our new lineup is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our academy program and our belief in homegrown talent.
George has proven himself to be one of the best drivers in the world. Not only is he quick, consistent and decisive, but he has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the top of our sport.
We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will support him every step of the way in the learning process. Next to George, he has an experienced teammate from whom he can learn and improve his technique. I’m sure both will make significant contributions as we continue to build momentum and compete at the front of the grid.
George Russell added:
I am really excited to work with Kimi for 2025. His record in junior formula has been tremendous and his promotion is really deserved. He is a fantastic young talent and a graduate of our youth programme. I look forward to using the experience I have gained from my own journey to guide Kimi as he makes the step up to F1.
I know how important a support Lewis has been to me throughout my time as a junior driver and since being his teammate. I have learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi.
As a team, we are building a lot of positive momentum for next year. We continue to make progress on the track and work hard to put all the pieces in place to fight for the world championships. It’s a really exciting journey we’re on.
I am confident that Kimi and I can continue to push the team forward and help deliver on the promise we are showing.
Finally, Antonelli – born on August 25, 2006 in Bologna, Italy – said:
It’s an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes driver and to be working alongside George in 2025. Getting to F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a little kid. I want to thank the team for the support they have given me in my career so far and the faith they have shown me. I’m still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.
I’m also very excited to be a teammate of George’s. He came up through the team’s academy program just like me and he’s someone I have a lot of respect for. He’s super fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner and has already helped me improve as a driver. I look forward to learning from him and working with him to succeed.
Source: www.autoblog.gr
