P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be a Mercedes 2025 F1 driver, replacing Lewis Hamilton but previously voiced self-doubts.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has expressed confidence in his readiness for F1 due to continuous testing with Mercedes, despite initial doubts about his promotion. The Italian driver, confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for 2025 during the Italian GP weekend, had questioned his preparedness as an 18-year-old rookie after winning in Hungary. Antonelli acknowledged he was still learning and making mistakes in F2, but saw significant improvements in his skills through Mercedes’ testing program. Despite crashing George Russell’s W15 at Monza, Antonelli believes he has made strides in long runs and mastering race weekend procedures. Looking ahead to his F1 debut in 2025, Antonelli remains focused on learning and adapting, with further opportunities for development awaited in upcoming FP1 sessions.
