Antonelli to join Russell at Mercedes in 2025

Confirming the worst-kept secret in the driver market, Mercedes has completed its 2025 driver line-up by announcing Kimi Antonelli to partner George Russell next season.

Now making the step-up from Formula 2 after fast-tracking his way through the feeder series ranks, Antonelli and Mercedes have had a long-standing partnership since the Italian was just 12 years old.

Competing with the backing of Mercedes since 2019, the 18-year-old has raked in a long list of accolades from FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series titles to both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022, before most recently claiming the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship.

Antonelli currently races in the Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing and has claimed two victories this season including a standout Feature Race in Hungary.

“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” Antonelli said.

“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.”

The announcement comes after Mercedes gave Antonelli the opportunity to debut in George Russell’s car in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix, an outing that ended 12 minutes later after the rookie crashed out at Parabolica.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, returns to the Paddock during FP1 at the Italian GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.

But despite the minor hiccup before today’s huge announcement, the youngster still has the backing of his future teammate and Team Boss.

Following a similar pipeline to his future teammate, former Mercedes Junior George Russell said he is “really excited to be partnering with Kimi in 2025”.

“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,” Russell said.

“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.”

Excited to bring a mix of “experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed” to the grid next season, Toto Wolff’s latest prodigy is finally primed to replace seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.

“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.”

Antonelli will continue racing in Formula 2 through to Abu Dhabi, with this weekend at his home Grand Prix still yet to be completed. 

Image: Mercedes AMG F1

2024 Italian Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, August 30th:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, August 31st:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, September 1st:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race: 23:00

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