Mercedes has listed 12 racers in its F1 junior line-up for 2025 season, as seven new drivers join the fray alongside the existing five.
Mercedes has expanded its F1 junior line-up for 2025 season as seven new drivers have joined its academy under the able eyes of Gwen Lagrue. Five from last year stay on, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli graduates to Formula 1 level to replace Lewis Hamilton, who switched to Ferrari.
The ones who will continue as Mercedes junior are Doriane Pin, Yuanpu Cui, Alex Powell, Luna Fluxa and Kenzo Craigie. Their racing programmes are set as well with the likes of Pin, Cui and Powell to compete in single-seaters, while Fluxa and Craigie will continue in karting.
The newcomer list includes the likes of Noah Stromsted, Rashid Al Daheri, Ethan Jeff-Hall, Andy Consani, James Anagnostiadis, Julia Montlaur and Many Nuvolini. Among them, Stomsted, Al Daheri, Jeff-Hall and Consani will race in single-seaters, while Anagnostiadis, Montlaur and Nuvolini will race in karting.
Here’s full list and their competition –
- Noah Stromsted, 17, Danish: F3, Trident
- Doriane Pin, 21, French: F1 Academy & FRECA, Prema
- Rashid Al Dhaheri, 16, Emirati: FRECA, Prema
- Yuanpu Cui, 17, Chinese: GB3, Argenti with Prema
- Alex Powell, 17, Jamaican-American: Italian F4 & Euro 4, TBC
- Ethan Jeff-Hall, 16, British: British F4, Argenti
- Andy Consani, 15, French: French F4
- Luna Fluxa, 14, Spanish: Karting, TBC
- Kenzo Craigie, 14, British: Karting, OK-Senior
- James Anagnostiadis, 14, Australian: Karting, OK-Senior
- Julia Montlaur, 12, French: Karting, TBC
- Many Nuvolini, 11, Italian: Karting, OK-Junior
“2025 marked a special year for the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s Junior Programme, that was reborn in 2016. Both of our F1 drivers this year have come from our own programme and are showing the way for all our young drivers,” said Lagure.
“We have allowed ourselves to explore new championships and challenges this year, welcoming six new members from go karting all the way up to FIA Formula 3. Some of our junior drivers are ready to fight for their respective championships, some are just starting their journey in single seaters, some are at the end of their karting careers and others are at the beginning. At all levels we have some exciting talents and a busy season ahead.”
George Russell stated: “The Junior Programme has been such a big part of my life. I think the one thing I’m most grateful for is the support that everyone in the team gave me to help me perform. They didn’t just drop me in situations and pile on the pressure; for all 12 of the current junior drivers, I know they will have the very best support and structure to help them on their motorsport journey. With Kimi and I, both Junior Programme graduates, racing in F1 for the team this year, it shows what is possible. I am sure every one of the juniors will be giving it their all this year and I look forward to seeing their success on track.”
And Antonelli added: “The Junior Programme helped me develop so much, not only as a driver but also as a person. I’m so grateful to the team for the opportunity and the support as without it, I don’t think I would be sat here as a works Mercedes driver in F1. It’s great to see the programme going from strength-to-strength and I look forward to playing my part in helping all 12 drivers on their motorsport journey.”
What do the drivers say –
Pin: “I’m really excited for the new season. I have been working hard to prepare this one. I’m determined to give it everything I’ve got and to push myself even further than before. I have one goal in mind and that is winning the title at the end of the year.”
Stromsted: “It feels really good to join the programme. My goal this season is to obviously learn a lot, but hopefully also fight for wins and potentially the championship. There will be lots of new tracks for me to drive this year, so I will have to adapt quickly.”
Al Daheri: “I’m very proud to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s Junior Programme, which has been so strong in recent years. Formula Regional this year will be a new experience, new tracks, with a new car, so there’s a lot of learning to do. My biggest goal is to always give 100% and to keep developing. I’m still at an early point in my career and we never stop learning.”
Cui: “I’m so excited to be able to carry on as a member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme. It’s been a pleasure being on this journey so far. I’m very looking forward to a lot of exciting, historic tracks this year. Let’s see what the season brings!”
Powell: “It is great to be part of the Junior Programme for another year. To have all the support and backing from the team is great and I am really truly grateful for that. I am excited for the year ahead and confident it is going to be another good season. There is a lot of work to do, but I am ready for the challenge.”
Jeff-Hall: “Being a part of a Formula One team junior programme is something you dream of as a kid, so I am super delighted to be joining Mercedes. My focus is on doing as well as I possibly can this year in British F4. Hopefully that will give me a good foundation to progress from.”
Consani: “It is so exciting to be part of the Mercedes family and part of the team’s Junior Programme. Wearing the colours of the Silver Arrows for this 2025 season in French F4 will be really cool. I am really looking forward to it and can’t wait to get started.”
Fluxa: “Having the support of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme has impacted my career so much. It’s been a great journey so far and I am excited for it to continue. My objectives for this year are to finish top 10 and be consistent. Icannot wait to get going.”
Craigie: “Last year was a good season for me, and moving up a category this year will give me a great chance to learn. I am aiming to recreate the results from 2024, and I am looking forward to racing on some new tracks in 2025.”
Anagnostiadis: “I am excited to be in a new category this year. There is always a lot to learn but it feels good to have a new challenge and a fresh start. I am aiming for podiums and hoping to place high up at the World Championship again. I am focused on improving and see where I get.”
Montlaur: “It is an incredible feeling to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme this year. I am looking forward to finding the limits of my performance this year and continuing to learn.”
Nuvolini: “I am really happy to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme. It is one of the best programmes to be on as a young driver so I am excited for what is ahead. I want to keep improving this year and hopefully I can win a championship.”
Here’s Mercedes on sustainable carbon fibre
Here’s George Russell on Max Verstappen scene
Here’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli on Ayrton Senna
Here’s George Russell recognising his role in 2025
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