Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Italian teenager replaces Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for 2025 season - BBC Sport

'Great things' expected as Mercedes announce Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kimi Antonelli joined Mercedes' youth programme at the age of 11

F1 Correspondent at MonzaPublished6 hours agoCommentsToto Wolff says Mercedes expect “great things” of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been named as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement next year.

The 18-year-old will partner George Russell to give Mercedes what team principal Wolff describes as “two drivers who are very extraordinary”.

Antonelli, who crashed heavily on his F1 race weekend debut in practice at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday, has been a Mercedes protege since he was 11.

Wolff decided to promote the Italian after what will be just one season in Formula 2, because he believes he can become a leading driver and that keeping him out of F1 would be wrong.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c4gvd336rzdo

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