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The Mercedes team has officially announced the signing of Andrea “Kimi” Antonelli, a move that many have been anticipating for months. The Italian, who just turned 18 six days ago, will join the German team alongside George Russell for the upcoming season. After months of media speculation, many hoped this story would conclude this week. Ultimately, it did. Mercedes executives have given a chance to one of the most promising talents, expecting him to impress the F1 world with his skills and performances.
Last weekend, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff accidentally revealed the team's plans during an interview, where he mentioned his desire to "succeed with George and Kimi." This led to overall speculation about when the official announcement would be made. The confirmation of what may be one of the biggest signings of the year (after Lewis Hamilton’s) came during a race weekend in Italy, where Antonelli had the chance to drive an F1 car for the first time.
Despite a brief but dramatic crash into the barriers, which destroyed the car of his future teammate, Antonelli’s speed before the incident impressed Mercedes officials. He is set to make another F1 appearance at the first practice session in Mexico at the end of October.
Antonelli expressed his excitement about being announced as a Mercedes driver alongside Russell for 2025. He shared how becoming an F1 driver has been a dream since childhood and thanked the team for their support throughout his career. Antonelli stressed that he still has a lot to learn but feels ready for the opportunity. He also spoke about his respect for Russell, mentioning that Russell’s experience and speed have already been beneficial to his development as a driver.
Russell is a driver who has been part of the team for years and can be a great help to a teenager like Antonelli. The young Italian’s intention is to listen to Russell and the team leaders and to try to reach his full potential. There’s no doubt that this young driver could be a huge asset to Mercedes. Although he’s inexperienced, it seems the German team is following a similar approach to Red Bull, giving opportunities to younger drivers.
Wolff is confident in Antonelli’s bright future, praising his consistent talent and speed. He mentioned that while it will be a significant step, Antonelli’s performance in this season’s testing impressed the team. Wolff emphasized that Antonelli will benefit from working alongside an experienced teammate like Russell and is optimistic that both drivers will contribute significantly to the team's progress.
Mercedes moves
Following Lewis Hamilton’s multi-year contract with Ferrari, there was considerable speculation about who would replace him at Mercedes. Names like Carlos Sainz (who later signed with Williams) and even Max Verstappen (who remained with Red Bull) were considered, but Andrea Antonelli, known as ‘Kimi,’ was a relatively unknown option at the time, especially since he had yet to drive in Formula 2.
However, Antonelli has been part of the Mercedes racing academy since 2019 and has achieved huge success, winning titles in Italian and German Formula 4, as well as in European and Middle Eastern regional championships. After finishing first in the European Regional Formula, Antonelli was given the chance to skip Formula 3 and move directly to Formula 2, where he races for the Prema team.
Despite what seemed like a destined future with Mercedes, Antonelli’s Formula 2 season has not been as great as expected. The series has undergone rule changes this season, including a new power unit and chassis, which have introduced issues, particularly with reliability.
The Prema team, which Antonelli and Oliver Berman (joining Haas in 2025) drive for, is experiencing its worst season since 2019. Once a dominant team, Prema is currently in seventh place in the championship, with Antonelli and Berman in seventh and fifteenth positions respectively. Although both drivers have secured wins, their overall performance has not fully showcased their potential, despite securing their futures in Formula 1.
The question remains whether Antonelli can make a powerful impact in F1. Although Mercedes executives, primarily Wolff, have emphasized for months that the 18-year-old is a talented driver, they also acknowledged that his lack of experience could be a hurdle. Despite this, they decided to give Antonelli a chance, believing he has the potential to achieve great things with the team.
Taking over from Lewis Hamilton, widely regarded as one of the greatest in F1, is definitely a difficult task and comes with immense pressure. However, the young driver will need to find a way to handle this pressure effectively. He will face an interesting challenge and start his career with a compelling opportunity.
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