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Lewis Hamilton has called having his Mercedes successor be announced “surreal”, sharing that it was “emotional” seeing Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed as George Russell’s new team-mate.
Lewis Hamilton expressed his emotions about watching Andrea Kimi Antonelli being announced as his successor at Mercedes, calling it “surreal” and “emotional”. The 18-year-old Antonelli will join George Russell in the upcoming season, taking over Hamilton’s seat as the seven-time drivers’ champion. Despite knowing about the announcement beforehand, Hamilton found the confirmation to be a significant moment. Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was confirmed in February, with his move to Ferrari from 2025 onwards, marking the end of a successful partnership with Mercedes. Hamilton praised Antonelli’s abilities and expressed excitement for the young driver’s future in Formula 1.