Lewis Hamilton rocked the F1 paddock in 2024 as he dropped a bombshell announcement that he would leave Mercedes after 12 years and join Ferrari. The seven-time world champion left a massive hole for the Silver Arrows to fill.
With very few names left, Mercedes F1 CEO, Toto Wolff, decided not to risk it again and selected Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the empty Mercedes seat. Announced back in August, Antonelli will partner with George Russell. But who is the youngster tipped to take F1 by storm?
Where is Kimi Antonelli from?
Antonelli, aged 18, was born in Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna district of Italy. Bologna is just 26 miles from the Imola race track.
Antonelli’s first name is Andrea, but he uses his middle name, Kimi. In 2019, Antonelli was signed by the Mercedes Junior Program.
Kimi Antonelli’s impressive track record
Antonelli has a stellar CV in junior categories. In 2022, he cruised to victory, claiming the Italian F4 Championship by over one hundred points. That year, the 18-year-old also won the ADAC Formula 4 championship, finishing on the podium in 12 of the 15 races he competed in.
Fantastico! Kimi Antonelli will make his @F1 debut for the Team in 2025 💚🤍❤️
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) August 31, 2024
Antonelli didn’t slow down in 2023. The Italian won the Formula Middle East Regional Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship. His impressive results saw Kimi called up to F2 for the following season.
How did Kimi Antonelli fair in F2?
Kimi Antonelli’s F2 season was a great sight. He partnered Ollie Bearman, who had more experience by an year, and beat him in the standings by 38 points in the 2024 season. Kimi did well during the season, securing a sprint win at Silverstone and a feature race win in Budapest. He finished sixth in the standings in a car which struggled to keep up with the top field.
Bold, brave, and brilliant 🙌
Kimi Antonelli’s Spa send secured the Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre!#F2 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/Tt90Yv2g17
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) December 27, 2024
Prema Racing faced many challenges with the 2024 car. The car had a small working window and was inconsistent depending on the track. With the team’s struggles, Kimi did well to win two races in his debut season. His standout performances were the sprint races at Silverstone and Spa, both in wet conditions.
Does Kimi Antonelli have any F1 experience?
Antonelli has driven F1 cars for Mercedes during 2024. His first taste of action was in April when he drove the W12 around the Red Bull Ring in Austria for his first test. He made his free practice debut at his home race in Monza when he took over George Russell’s car.
HUGE CRASH! 😯
Heartbreak for Kimi Antonelli as he loses control in Turn 11 and smashes into the barrier 😨 pic.twitter.com/BKChBaRqTU
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 30, 2024
However, the session didn’t go well as the youngster spun off into the barriers after just six laps of running. His outing in Mexico was more successful as the 18-year-old kept Lewis Hamilton’s W15 on track and ended the session in P12.
