It’s official. Mercedes has announced that Italian Kimi Antonelli will take Lewis Hamilton’s place in its 2025 Formula 1 line-up. Since Max Verstappen joined the F1 grid, there has not been a talented and highly-tipped for success driver as Andrea “Kimi” Antonelli.

The rumours had animated the paddock for many months. Is the 18-year-old ready for F1? Is he ready for the pressure that comes with a Mercedes seat replacing Lewis Hamilton? And what does this all mean for his team mate George Russell?

On Friday the baptism in FP1 with Russel’s car. He started flying setting the best time before Hamilton improved it. The debut lasts only 10 minutes before the crash at Parabolica.  This “incident” shadows for a moment the huge expectations built around the crystal clear talent from  Bologna of the Mercedes Academy.  Only last Sunday he has celebrating his 18th birthday, 5 days later the start of his career as an F1 driver.

Grown in the Mercedes Academy and followed steps by steps by Toto Wolff, Kimi has received the most warmth welcome from anyone in the paddock, starting from 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.  “I said a long time ago that I think that’s who the team should choose moving forwards. And time will tell what they end up deciding to do. No, he’s one of those young, super-talented kids that’s come through. I mean, he’s a young adult now. he is just turning 18, and he’s got a bright future ahead of him. And yeah, I’m really excited to see and watch his progress. I saw a picture earlier on of us, back in, I think, 2018, and he was one of the grid kids! And I’m like shaking his hand at the front of the grid! So it obviously reminds you how old you are when you have those experiences. But yeah, looking forward to seeing his growth and his journey through into Formula 1”.

Toto Wolff about Antonelli’s debut in FP1: “I really liked it. He was very fast, confident and this is what we want to see. Of course, putting an end to the free practice session after 10 minutes … I’m sure he is not happy, but he didn’t hurt himself, and this is the most important thing. I’m sure this is the start of a great career and in the future we will remember and joke about this start. I’m very proud of him”.

Why did he choose Antonelli? “I like his talent, his potential, his personality, his family. Everything is in its place”.  Toto has always expressed his admiration for the Antonelli family: his father Marco, owns the AKM Motorsport team, where his mother Veronica, runs the amazing hospitality “Casa Antonelli”. His younger sister Maggie, 9, does rhythmic gymnastics.