Kimi Antonelli named as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Formula 1’s Mercedes

MONZA, Italy (AP) — Teenager Kimi Antonelli has been named as Lewis Hamilton’s substitute subsequent 12 months at Mercedes, a day after his Formulation One debut ended within the 18-year-old Italian driver hitting the wall.

Group principal Toto Wolff had mentioned the crash in first observe for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix would haven’t any affect on Antonelli’s F1 possibilities, and affirmation of his elevation to accomplice with George Russell was introduced forward of Saturday’s ultimate observe at his house occasion.

Hypothesis has been rampant on who would change Hamilton at Mercedes, for the reason that seven-time F1 champion introduced he was departing for Ferrari on the finish of the season.

There have been even makes an attempt to woo three-time defending champion Max Verstappen from Purple Bull however Wolff mentioned he all the time wished to go along with Antonelli, who has been with Mercedes since he joined its junior program when he was 12.

“I made up my thoughts 5 minutes after Lewis Hamilton advised me that he’s going to Ferrari,” Wolff advised reporters at Monza. “Clearly, we have been discussing with different choices and in addition saved the Max thought, didn’t low cost it fully with taking a look at what occurred at Purple Bull.

“However instinctively, that’s the lineup with these two that I all the time wished.”

Nevertheless, the door doesn’t seem like fully closed to Verstappen signing the next 12 months, with Mercedes saying that at this stage the Russell-Antonelli lineup was just for 2025.

Wolff remained coy when pressed on the matter. He mentioned he believes “100% that they’re your best option” for the group however acknowledged it was “most necessary is to see how George and Kimi settle in” on the “strain cooker” that’s Mercedes.

“I don’t flirt exterior, I’ve all the time mentioned it,” Wolff continued. “All of our focus within the group is on George and Kimi. There’s no dialogue, there’s no second ideas about what we’re doing in 2026, as a result of now it’s about 2024 and 2025.

“And if flirting exterior occurs, then they’ll realize it on the identical time when we’ve got these discussions, I all the time imply that.”

After titles in Karting and Formulation 4, Antonelli solely made the step as much as F2 this 12 months, profitable two races.

Antonelli, who turned 18 simply final Sunday, has large boots to fill with Hamilton having damaged a slew of information with Mercedes as he developed into one of many biggest racing drivers of all time.

“Effectively, I believe it’s not potential to interchange Lewis Hamilton,” mentioned Antonelli, who can be the third-youngest driver in F1 historical past when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia subsequent March. “He’s such an awesome determine within the sport of right this moment. And he has achieved a lot in his profession. So I don’t wish to see as his substitute.

“I’m simply the subsequent driver for Mercedes in 25. So I’m actually excited for that. And he’s a extremely nice man, he’s been giving me some assist. So yeah, actually, actually blissful.”

Antonelli’s much-anticipated first look on Friday lasted fewer than two laps, and solely 10 minutes, after he misplaced management of his Mercedes on the Parabolica, spinning off and sliding backward via the gravel into the tire barrier.

There have been promising indicators for the restricted time he was on the observe, with Wolff labelling it “astonishing.” The debutant had simply set the quickest center sector of the session and was trying to reclaim the quickest time from Hamilton, who had simply overwhelmed Antonelli’s first lap by 0.6 seconds.

“Our new lineup is ideal to open the subsequent chapter in our story,” Wolff mentioned. “Additionally it is a testomony to the energy of our junior program and our perception in homegrown expertise.

“Kimi has persistently proven the expertise and velocity wanted to compete on the very high of our sport,” Wolff added. “We all know it is going to be one other large step up, however he has impressed us in his F1 testing this 12 months and we shall be supporting him each step of the way in which within the studying course of.”

Pleasure had been rising at Monza over the prospect of a primary Italian F1 driver in three years.

Italy has needed to wait since 2006 for a win in F1 and for much longer for the title, because the final Italian champion was Alberto Ascari in 1953.

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AP Formulation 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

Daniella Matar, The Related Press