Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes confirms Antonelli for 2025
Mercedes has confirmed Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be promoted into a race seat in 2025 alongside George Russell, replacing Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
The Italian made his FP1 debut for Mercedes at Monza on Friday, but crashed heavily on just his second timed lap and had his running ended after only 10 minutes. That incident has not dissuaded team principal Toto Wolff -- who said afterwards “what we've seen from one and a half laps is just astonishing” -- and Antonelli has been given a full-time drive for Mercedes at just 18 years old.
“Our 2025 driver lineup combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed,” Wolff said. “We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also 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 junior program and our belief in home-grown talent.
“George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team.
“Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very 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 be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process.
“In George, he has an experienced teammate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field.”
There’s no confirmation of the length of Antonelli’s deal, with Mercedes simply stating he “steps up” into the F1 seat.
The drive -- announced during the Italian Grand Prix weekend -- marks a remarkable rise for Antonelli, who has been supported by Mercedes since 2019 when he was still in karts. The Italian only raced a single seater for the first time in 2021, winning the FRECA championship last season and was then moved straight up to Formula 2 this year.
Antonelli currently sits seventh in the F2 standings with two wins to his name, but his pervious championship success in F4 as well as FRECA mean he has enough Super License points regardless of his finishing position this season.
Antonelli’s promotion confirms three rookies on the grid for 2025, as he joins Oliver Bearman and Jack Doohan at Haas and Alpine respectively.
Presented by:
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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