Antonelli reacts to announcement at Mercedes: 'This was my dream'

Finally on Saturday morning was the announcement of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian will drive for Mercedes in 2025, and the 18-year-old reacted enthusiastically to his announcement.

"It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George [Russell] for 2025," Antonelli began. "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."

Antonelli is the replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari. The Italian is considered a great talent, so he will get the chance to debut for a top team like Mercedes at the age of 18.

At Mercedes, he will thus become George Russell's teammate. On this, he says: “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.”