Andrea Kimi Antonelli was more nervous than he had been for some time. A racing driver’s career can often hinge on sliding doors moments such as these. The 18-year-old wasn’t trying to secure a Formula One drive. He completed that mission months ago when he signed with Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton.

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli disagrees with the notion that he’s “replacing” Lewis Hamilton as he feels he’s just the “next Mercedes driver”. With Hamilton moving to Ferrari, Mercedes opted to sign Antonelli as his replacement. Antonelli is the youngest driver on the 2025 F1 grid at just 18.