‘I’m here to write my own story, not replace Hamilton’

New Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has insisted he doesn’t view himself as filling in for Lewis Hamilton and he’s eager to jot down his personal story in System 1.

After the seven-time world champion determined he would be part of Ferrari on the completion of his twelfth season at Mercedes, the squad evaluated its choices for 2025 and eventually opted for its Italian protege, despite the latter’s inexperience.

Antonelli has lengthy been considered by Mercedes as a worthy alternative for Hamilton – although it was not anticipated his providers can be required so quickly – after he took back-to-back titles within the European karting championship, then gained no fewer than 4 championships in his first two years in single-seaters, earlier than his transfer to F2.

“I don’t discover it proper to say I’m his alternative,” Antonelli mentioned about Hamilton. “He has performed a lot within the sport, and I simply really feel like the subsequent Mercedes driver, and I actually need to make my very own story.

“Undoubtedly, racing for Mercedes is a giant accountability as a result of it’s clearly a prime staff, however on the similar time it’s an ideal alternative, it’s a privilege to be the place I’m at the moment. I’m simply attempting to make the perfect out of this chance.”

Antonelli will turn into F1’s third-youngest driver ever when he takes half within the season-opening Australian Grand Prix aged 18 years and 6 months, with solely Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll having made earlier debuts.

Having made a daring bounce from System Regional to F2 in 2024 – which was determined lengthy earlier than Mercedes turned conscious of Hamilton’s impending departure – Antonelli considerably struggled in F1’s feeder sequence however nonetheless managed two wins whereas outqualifying and outscoring highly-rated team-mate Oliver Bearman.

“I feel final season was a very, actually good lesson,” Antonelli contemplated, having completed sixth within the standings. “You recognize, it’s when the battle comes that you simply turn into stronger and also you truly discover ways to overcome the battle.

“I feel it was actually good studying final season, and undoubtedly this yr I’m going through one other massive step. Most likely there are going to be some struggles to face, and I really feel extra ready within the case of getting to face them.”

The teenager is practical about his 2025 prospects, explaining he doesn’t have “a whole lot of expectations” regardless of arguably being the primary driver to make his debut in an precise prime staff since 2007 – again when Hamilton took F1 by storm as McLaren’s rookie.

“What I’m actually going to do is attempt to concentrate on the method, attempt to take pleasure in as properly,” mentioned Antonelli. “Undoubtedly, one thing I actually need to do is beginning with rhythm, attempting to construct from it and attempting to be constant.

“In fact, the mindset is all the time going to be the identical: attempting to go on monitor and win, and do the perfect outcomes attainable. However it’s a must to be practical on the similar time, as a result of the extent is tremendous aggressive.”

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photograph by: Getty Photos

In the meantime, new staff chief George Russell has tipped Antonelli to match his tempo right away, whereas acknowledging his incoming team-mate will nonetheless have a steep studying curve.

“Kimi is an excellent quick driver, tremendous motivated,” the three-time grand prix winner mentioned. “Naturally, for any driver of their first yr, rather a lot to be taught, however I’m positive it’s going to be season collectively.”

Having made his personal debut in 2019, Russell is aware of what Antonelli’s scenario appears like, to some extent.

“You’ve bought a lot confidence in your self,” he defined. “Once I look again to myself after I was Kimi’s age, I don’t assume you’re any slower, you simply acquire expertise over time, you know the way to take care of the journey of System 1, work for two,000 individuals.

“However when you’ve bought the pace, you’ve bought it – and when you don’t, you don’t. It’s virtually so simple as that.

“I’m positive Kimi goes to maintain me on my toes and we’ll be pushing one another.”