Mercedes has confirmed the signing of its junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the 2025 F1 season to partner George Russell.
After Lewis Hamilton surprised everyone during the winter of the 2024 season with his announcement of leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 F1 season, the German outfit then began the search of a new driver to replace him alongside Russell.
There were several names that were linked to it with the likes of Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, etc, staking their claim. Even Max Verstappen’s name had been doing rounds, with Toto Wolff making things public very often.
But amid that, F2 racer and Mercedes academy driver Antonelli slowly started to work his way into the forefront. In fact, the German outfit upped his F1 test programme and it started to become real possibility for the Italian to be named as the driver to be.
He got his first FP1 chance in Italian GP at Monza and has now been officially confirmed to be a Mercedes driver from 2025 F1 season onward alongside Russell in a dynamic pairing. The German outfit is taking a gamble with the youngster but with a long-term approach.
Antonelli was fast-tracked to F2 in 2025 after success in Formula Regional, with the aim to make him ready for 2026 at least. He started off slowly but has picked up pace since with wins under his belt and up in the top half of the standings as a rookie.
His FP1 debut in Monza didn’t materialise as he crashed within 10 minutes of the session, but his F1 promotion was already done by then. “Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed,” said Wolff.
“We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme and our belief in home-grown talent. George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world.
“He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport.
“We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field.”
His new teammate Russell stated: “I’m really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025. His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved. He’s a fantastic young talent and a fellow graduate of our junior programme. I look forward to using the experience I’ve gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1.
“I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I’ve been his team-mate. I’ve learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi. As a team, we’re building a lot of positive momentum heading into next year. We continue to make progress on track and are working hard to put all the pieces in place to fight for world championships. It is a really exciting journey we are on; I am confident Kimi and I can continue to push the team forward and help deliver on the promise we are showing.”
Antonelli himself noted: “It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they’ve given me in my career so far and the faith they’ve shown in me. I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team.
“I’m also really excited to become George’s team-mate. He came through the team’s junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for. He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track.”
And Markus Schafer, Non-Executive Chairman & Mercedes-Benz AG CTO, added: “It is an exciting time for the team as we unveil our driver line-up for 2025. We open the next chapter in our story next year and have a fantastic partnership with which to do so. George, as a multiple Grand Prix winner, has developed into a top-tier driver. It has been a pleasure to see him come through the ranks of the team’s junior programme, establish himself in F1 over the past few years, and become a leader within the team.
“Kimi, just like George and Lewis, is one of our home-grown talents with a very promising future. His record at junior level is incredibly impressive and his raw speed is clear to see. I can’t wait to see him in a race seat next year and watch his supreme talent shine in a Mercedes F1 car.”
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