Kimi Antonelli is planning to have a successful first year in F1 (Image: Getty)
Kimi Antonelli has dismissed the idea that he is stepping into ‘s shoes at , as the up-and-coming talent sets out to make his own impact in the sport. After much-anticipated move to during the off-season, he suited up in red and white for the first time at pre-season testing in Bahrain last month.
The Brit garnered the attention as he aims for a historic eighth drivers’ championship to surpass Michael Schumacher. Meanwhile, Antonelli was getting to grips with and clocked the seventh quickest time as he gears up for his first F1 season. With the Italian filling the vacancy left by Hamilton at , there’s been speculation about how the young driver will measure up to the seven-time world champion. But the 18-year-old isn’t burdened by these comparisons, as he embraces the “big responsibility” of his rookie year.
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Speaking to Sport, Antonelli said: “I don’t feel like his [Hamilton’s] replacement. I just feel like a F1 driver. But it’s such a great opportunity. I am really grateful for the trust and opportunity gave me.
“But at the same time, it is a big responsibility as well, because I am racing for , top team, and so they’ve got some expectations as well, of course. I am just going to try to make the best out of this.”
Antonelli has the support of his team-mate , who has commended the young driver’s exceptional skill and swift adaptation. Russell said: “He is such a fantastic driver. He does not have the experience yet, but I am sure he will be up to speed very quickly.
Russell is excited by his new Mercedes team-mate (Image: Getty)
“He has already integrated so well. We have both been racing from a young age and we know what needs to be fed back to the team. He is young, but his opinion will be just as valid.”
While many anticipate mounting pressure on the 18-year-old driver, Antonelli remains focused as he added: “I really want to start with a nice rhythm and build from there and be consistent.
“And what I don’t want to do is, like, big mistake. Because when you do a big mistake, you do a few steps back and then to recover it takes a little time.”
Antonelli isn’t fazed by the shoes he is filling in Hamilton (Image: Formula 1 via Getty)
This mindset is likely influenced by Antonelli’s past experiences, including his crash during the Italian Grand Prix last year. The teenager had made his free practice debut in the first session at Monza, driving Russell’s W15.
The promising start for the young driver was dashed by a spin-out at the Curva Alboreto corner, resulting in a collision with the tyre barrier and an impact of 52G just 10 minutes into the session. boss stood by his young prodigy after the incident, telling reporters he prefers to have a problem with “slowing him down rather than making him faster” – and added that Antonelli’s performance before the crash was “astonishing”.
Antonelli, though a newcomer to the official F1 paddock, has been on the radar for some time. He was scouted into the youth programme at 11 years old and was fast-tracked from Formula 2 to F1 after only one season in 2024.
Amid his rapid ascent in motorsport, Antonelli himself is taken aback by the speed of his F1 debut, describing it as a “dream come true”.
Reflecting on his journey to the top, he said: “If you had asked me this four years ago, I would have said, ‘this is crazy, not happening’. Maybe a bit later.
“If you think, not even four years ago, three and a half years ago, I was still in karting. Of course, F1 was always my big dream, but I wouldn’t have imagined I would get here so quickly – but I am super happy, and it is a dream come true.”