With the announcement made and his F1 debut now only a few months away, Antonelli began to process what’s ahead of him as a Silver Arrows driver alongside George Russell.
“Obviously it’s something I’ve been dreaming of since a very young age,” he commented. “To finally be announced as a driver for 2025 is such a great feeling. I cannot wait to get started.”
ANALYSIS: Why Mercedes chose to take a risk and sign 18-year-old Antonelli for 2025
As for stepping into seven-time world champion Hamilton’s shoes, he added: “Well, I think, it’s not possible to replace [him]. He’s such a great figure in the sport today and he has achieved so much in his career.
“I don’t want to see it as his replacement, I’m just the next driver for Mercedes. He’s a really great guy, he’s given me some support, so I’m really happy.”
For the rest of the year, Antonelli will continue to drive previous F1 machinery as part of a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme formed by Mercedes, as well as seeing out his rookie season in F2 – the Italian sitting sixth in the standings with three rounds to go.
