According to a source, Mercedes is planning to unveil Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at the Formula One team at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix.
Last September, the German marque appeared to have locked down its driver lineup through 2025 when it announced that Hamilton and George Russell had signed extensions.
However, Mercedes was surprised prior to the season’s start when Hamilton used a break provision in his last contract to sign a spectacular agreement with Ferrari next season.
Antonelli has been tipped as the main frontrunner to take the vacant seat ever then, despite Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff’s warning that he does not want to burn the protege.
The Italian has had a remarkable career in single-seater racing, and his quick rise has seen him move straight from Formula 3 to Formula 2 this season.
Despite a rocky start to his debut season in the second division, Antonelli has subsequently won the British Sprint and the Hungary Feature.
According to Autosprint, Antonelli has signed a contract with Mercedes that will begin in 2025, and the team plans to announce the news at Monza next month.
Antonelli will be visiting the Italian track as he prepares to compete on home soil once more with his Prema F2 team, where he is seventh in the Drivers’ standings.
Mercedes has been coordinating Antonelli’s inaugural F2 season with a significant F1 testing program, which has involved sampling both the 2021 and 2022 cars.
Antonelli will join Russell, who is in his third season with Mercedes and will become the team’s more experienced driver once Hamilton leaves.
Hamilton’s entire F1 career has been powered by Mercedes engines, and his connection with the marque’s works team is the most successful in F1.
Antonelli’s career will mimic that of the seven-time Formula One champion, Hamilton, who debuted with a front-running McLaren in 2007 and nearly won the title.
“I have no idea what Toto’s plans are but, for me, taking on a youngster would be [the right move],” he remarked. “If it was my job, my role, I’d probably take on Kimi.”
Mercedes’ gamble on a rookie comes at a time when the team’s competitiveness has increased and it appears to be on pace to compete for the championship in 2025.
In the lead-up to the summer break, the Brackleu-based squad won three races in a row, including a 1-2 in Belgium before Russell was disqualified.
Russell, on the other hand, has stated that he is fully prepared to compete for his first Formula One crown, while Wolff has promised Antonelli that he would be allowed plenty opportunity to make rookie mistakes.
The Austrian, who has been wooing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, has stated that Antonelli can utilize next season to prepare for the F1 regulation reset in 2026.
“Of course, there are risks,” Wolff Autosport Wereld said last month about the possibility of signing Antonelli.
“They are not so much interested in Antonelli’s driving ability as they are in his exposure to the media and the skills of George Russell, one of the best drivers on the grid.
“But Kimi possesses immense potential. His quickness and talent are already at a certain level; he only lacks experience.
