Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to step into a role at Mercedes that many would consider daunting – taking over from seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
The 18-year-old sensation was confirmed on Saturday by Mercedes as Hamilton’s successor and George Russell’s teammate at the Brackley squad from 2025.
However, Antonelli is quick to acknowledge that filling Hamilton's shoes is an impossible task, given the Briton’s immense stature in the sport.
“I have to be honest, no one can ever replace Lewis because he’s such a great driver, such a great figure in the sport,” the young Italian told Formula1.com.
As fate would have it, Antonelli’s first encounter with Hamilton dates back to 2018 when, as a mere 12-year-old karter who had been chosen as a grid boy for the Italian Grand Prix that year, he was assigned to stand in front of F1’s superstar.
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“It was 2018, I was a grid boy,” he recalled, when presented with a picture of himself on the grid with Hamilton.
“It was crazy because they assigned me Lewis Hamilton. I was already super excited for it.
“Just before this moment, they just finished singing the national anthem and as Lewis was heading back to the car I remember calling him and saying – ‘remember, you’re the best, you can win this’ as it was a tight battle with Ferrari.
“I remember telling him that and eventually he won the race. It was a great feeling to be able to give him a high five just before the race.”
Over five years later, Antonelli was reunited with his idol who has been a mentor of sorts, often providing guidance and encouragement during their interactions this season.
“He’s been helpful,” he said. “Before my FP1, he came to me, gave me a high five and told me to enjoy as much as possible.
“During weekends, sometimes we catch up, talk a bit about how the session goes and sometimes he gives me advice – like to keep working hard and believe in yourself because your time will come.
“He’s such a great guy – and I’m really thankful to have built a relationship with him. He’s such a great driver and super nice as well.”
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For now, Antonelli’s focus is firmly on the end of his Formula 2 campaign with Prema, where he’s looking to gain valuable experience and continue his development.
Alongside his F2 commitments, he’s also been involved in private testing with the 2022-spec Mercedes F1 machinery, which has been an important part of his growth as a driver.
When it comes to his goals for the future, Antonelli remains realistic yet ambitious.
“For next year, I don’t expect so much from myself,” he admitted. “I will just try to make the least amount of mistakes and try to get the best result for the team and myself.
“The goal of course is always to win but it won’t be easy. We’re on the grid with the 20 best drivers. It’s going to be tough.”
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Still, Antonelli feels a strong sense of support from Mercedes, describing the team as “like a second family.”
He appreciates the guidance and the efforts they have made at the behest of team boss Toto Wolff to help him manage the pressures of stepping up to higher levels of competition.
“They have been trying to advise me and try to make me feel the pressure a bit less. I’m super excited, I’ll try to do the best job as possible,” Antonelli concluded, ready to embark on his journey with the support of his team and the legacy of a legend like Hamilton behind him.
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