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18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his full-time F1 debut next year as he steps into a seat at Mercedes, replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes has officially announced Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s successor for the 2025 F1 season, when Hamilton departs for Ferrari. Antonelli, an 18-year-old rising talent, will team up with George Russell for the upcoming season, marking a quick ascent in the motorsport world. Born in Italy on August 25, 2006, Antonelli comes from a karting background and has excelled in various championships, including the CIK-FIA European Championship OK class. Signed to Mercedes’ F1 junior program in 2019, Antonelli’s impressive performances in lower formulae have paved his way to a full-time F1 drive with one of the top teams on the grid. With a successful season in F2 and rigorous testing under Mercedes’ guidance, Antonelli is set to embark on his F1 journey next year, completing a remarkable rise to the pinnacle of motorsport.
