Following his Formula One debut at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, 18-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli has been announced as Lewis Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes for the 2025 season. Antonelli, who took over for George Russell in the opening practice session, unfortunately crashed his Mercedes into the wall after just two laps, ending his debut prematurely.
Despite the crash, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed confidence in Antonelli's abilities, stating that the incident would not impact his future in F1. Antonelli, who has been part of the Mercedes junior program since the age of 12, expressed his excitement at the opportunity to join the team as a works driver alongside George Russell.
