Andrea Kimi Antonelli disagrees with the notion that he’s “changing” Lewis Hamilton as he feels he’s simply the “subsequent Mercedes driver”.
With Hamilton transferring to Ferrari, Mercedes opted to signal Antonelli as his alternative.
Antonelli is the youngest driver on the 2025 F1 grid at simply 18.
With restricted single-seater expertise, Mercedes have given him an unimaginable period of time in older F1 automobiles to get him in control.
Antonelli might grow to be F1’s youngest-ever race winner if he’s victorious in any of the opening three races, breaking Max Verstappen’s present document.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities on the launch of Mercedes’ partnership with Adidas, Antonelli was fast to say that nobody can substitute Hamilton.
“I really feel like I’m only a new Mercedes driver. In fact, saying that I’m changing Lewis Hamilton… I don’t suppose it’s actually right,” Antonelli stated.
“He’s such a giant determine within the sport and he’s completed a lot. I really feel like I’m simply the following Mercedes driver and actually wish to make my manner and attempt to obtain nice outcomes.”
Antonelli ready for “brutal” F1
The highlight shall be on Antonelli, provided that he shall be racing for one in every of F1’s main groups.
Whether or not Mercedes are in title competition stays to be seen as over the previous three years, they’ve struggled with consistency.
Antonelli has acknowledged that his rookie marketing campaign isn’t going to be straightforward.
“It’s not going to be straightforward as a result of my first yr in F1 on the finish of the day I’m racing towards different 19 finest drivers on this planet,” Antonelli added.
“In fact, the world of motorsport, Formulation 1 particularly, may be very brutal generally. However you recognize the factor is I’m simply going to only attempt to keep centered on myself.
“Attempt to work daily, weekend by weekend and attempting to show myself. The mindset goes to be one in every of attempting to win after which we are going to see. As I stated earlier than, I’ve good folks round me that particularly on this second they actually attempt to assist me to disregard the exterior issues to only at all times be centered on the second.”
