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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 successor at Mercedes, has set the bar high for his first season in Formula 1, saying he is aiming for a debut with “some” wins – as dazzling as Hamilton’s at McLaren in 2007.
Kimi Antonelli moved from the European single-seater championships directly to Formula 2 this year, where he has taken a Sprint race win (Silverstone) and a Feature race win (Hangaroring), and is 6th in the standings.
Nevertheless, in individual testing days in older Mercedes F1 cars, the Italian impressed the Brackley team, and with their full backing now declares himself ready to win GPs at motorsport’s crown jewel from his very first season there in 2025 – with the condition, of course, that the new Mercedes W16 is also competitive.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli in his first tests with Mercedes F1
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“I feel ready for her F1”Antonelli said at the Italian Festival dello Sport. “Speed wise I don’t think this will be a problem. The only aspect that requires a lot of work is figuring out how to manage the three days of racing in the best possible way, learning all the procedures. There’s a lot to learn and I’m ready”he added.
And when asked about the goal he has set for his first season in Formula 1, the 18-year-old answered: “For sure, winning some races would be a dream. It won’t be easy because many teams have competitive cars.
It will be very difficult, but that is my first goal. Even some podium places will be good, but the main goal is to try and bring the team some wins.”concluded the Italian.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the cockpit of the Mercedes W12, at the Austrian tests
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In this way, Kimi Antonelli wants to emulate Lewis Hamilton, who had a dazzling debut season in the sport in 2007 with McLaren-Mercedes. The Briton had won 4 GPs that year, and finished second in the championship, one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Granted, in 2007 Lewis was 22 years old, but to this day his debut remains one of the most impressive for a first-time driver in modern F1. The next best was by Oscar Piastri, also with McLaren, in 2023.
Mercedes F1 principal Toto Wolff with Kimi Antonelli on the sidelines of the 2024 Italian GP
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In recent statements, Toto Wolff has again spoken about selecting Kimi Antonelli directly for next year’s Mercedes F1 factory team: “The arrival of Kimi alongside George (Russell) clearly has a lot of momentum and also brings youth and freshness.
You can feel the smiles that the presence of an 18-year-old in the car brings to our bodies. Of course, in saying that, I know there will be times when Lewis’ experience would help the team.
Kimi will be on a very steep learning curve, but this is absolutely the right thing for the team to do, and there is not one person who would have decided to do anything differently.”added the Austrian Mercedes F1 director.
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