Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 is officially filled! You can all stop frantically speculating now because the throne of speed and glory has a new occupant—and no, it’s not your cousin who won that go-kart race last summer.
The 39-year-old F1 legend, who has been with Mercedes for a solid 11 years (that’s like 77 in racing dog years), announced he’d be stepping down earlier this year. Naturally, the rumor mill has been churning at maximum revs ever since. Some thought the next driver might be a robot; others were placing bets on an actual greyhound—hey, they’re fast! But no, the successor is a real, human, carbon-based life form, and it’s none other than Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a teenager. Yes, you heard that right, a kid who probably just learned how to parallel park.
So, who is this child prodigy zooming straight from Formula 2 into the F1 circus for the 2025 season? Well, Andrea Kimi Antonelli just celebrated his 18th birthday. That means he’s old enough to vote, but more importantly, old enough to floor it in a car that costs more than a small country’s GDP. Hailing from Bologna, Italy, Kimi comes pre-equipped with an affinity for fast cars, fast pasta, and apparently, fast ascents into the world of Formula 1.
Kimi joined the Mercedes junior program in 2019, which means Mercedes had their eye on him before he even figured out how to grow a mustache. Fast forward to 2023, and he’s already made his free practice debut ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Yes, while other teens are practicing their TikTok dances, Kimi is out there practicing how to shave seconds off his lap time.
But hold on to your helmets, because Mercedes isn’t just handing over the keys to any ol’ driver. In 2025, Kimi will be joining none other than George “Speedy McConsistency” Russell. This new dynamic duo is about to turn the F1 grid into their own personal playground. Expect Russell to give Kimi tips like, “How to avoid turning into a human missile during Turn 1.”
Team Principal Toto Wolff, the man who probably sleeps in a bed made of tire rubber and victory trophies, couldn’t be more thrilled. “Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth, and out-and-out raw speed,” Toto said, before likely thinking to himself, “and hopefully fewer crashes.” He went on to praise George for being an absolute legend and Kimi for showing that yes, 18-year-olds can drive—really, really fast.
Wolff continued, “Kimi’s shown he has the speed, the talent, and most importantly, the ability to resist the urge to text and drive.” In George, Kimi will have an experienced teammate to help him learn the ropes, and maybe even teach him which button actually starts the car. Toto’s confidence in this pair is so high, he’s already drafting speeches for their future podium finishes.
As for Kimi, he’s understandably over the moon (or maybe the Nürburgring) about joining Mercedes in 2025. “It’s an amazing feeling,” Kimi shared, presumably while pinching himself to make sure this isn’t some elaborate F1-themed dream. He’s eager to learn from George and promises to stay focused on improving himself. But let’s be real, Kimi—you’re 18, you just got a Mercedes F1 car, and your teammate is George Russell. We’d be printing out “World’s Coolest Job” T-shirts if we were you.
The future of Mercedes F1 is in safe (and young) hands. George Russell will continue being George—fast, consistent, and impossibly handsome—and Kimi Antonelli will bring a much-needed infusion of youthful energy, meme-worthy moments, and possibly a TikTok dance or two. Buckle up, F1 fans—the 2025 season is going to be a wild ride!
