Following the stunning news on the first day of February that Lewis Hamilton would be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025 on a multi-year deal, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has announced that their 18-year-old junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will partner George Russell at the Brackley-based squad next season.
Antonelli’s junior formula record has been extremely impressive. He won the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 titles in 2022. That was backed up last year as he claimed the FRECA crown.
In 2024, he made the big leap straight to Formula 2. Despite PREMA’s struggles with the new cars, Antonelli has shown a few moments as to why he is so highly thought of within F1. Two wins at Silverstone and Budapest recently have moved him up to P7 in the standings.
He has generally outperformed teammate and fellow 2025 F1 graduate Oliver Bearman, although the Brit has been beset by engine unreliability on a few occasions — it’s been a common theme in Formula 2 in recent years.
To help him get up to speed with F1 machinery, Antonelli has done running via the TPC programme. He has driven both the W12 and W13 in the last few months.
As Mercedes has won three races recently — thanks to serious gains made with the W15 through updates since the beginning of the season — there will be big pressure on the young Italian to deliver immediately if the team builds a car capable of winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2025.
Antonelli took to the wheel of the W15 on Friday in FP1 at his home venue. Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he crashed out on his second flying lap, carrying too much speed into Parabolica, losing the rear and ending up in the wall. It was a 52G impact, and he admitted he was not feeling super great after it, although he is okay to race in Formula 2 later today and tomorrow.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they’ve given me in my career so far and the faith they’ve shown in me. I am 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 really excited to become George’s team-mate. He came through the team’s junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for. He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track.”
Toto Wolff
“Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme 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 team-mate 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.”
