Andrea Kimi Antonelli, just 18 years old, is on track to become the third-youngest driver to debut in Formula 1, making his entry with Mercedes in 2025. Born in Bologna, Italy, Antonelli’s been a rising star, already making waves in junior categories with his speed and skill on the track. His name’s been around in racing circles for a while, and Mercedes has been keeping an eye on him since he was a kid tearing it up in karting.

Kimi’s talent showed up early, heavily influenced by his dad, Marco Antonelli, a former driver who now runs his own racing team. Kimi started in karting and caught Mercedes’ attention quickly, joining their junior driver program back in 2019. His rise has been fast—he won karting championships, then dominated Formula 4 in 2022, taking home titles in Germany and Italy. In 2023, he moved up to Formula Regional, where he continued to impress, paving his way toward Formula 2.

Mercedes’ decision to bring Antonelli on as an official driver came after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff shared their faith in the young Italian driver, calling him “the perfect choice to start the team’s next chapter.” Wolff also mentioned that Antonelli’s youth and talent would bring fresh energy to the team, with the added bonus of learning alongside experienced driver George Russell, who’ll be his teammate.

Antonelli, who’s thrilled about making it to F1, called it a “dream come true” and said he’s ready to tackle the challenge. In his statements, he thanked Mercedes for backing him throughout his career and promised to give it his all in every race. He’s especially excited to learn from Russell, whom he sees as a role model, especially since they both came up through the Mercedes junior program.

Antonelli’s debut in Formula 1 won’t just be a milestone for Mercedes—it’ll be huge for Italian motorsport history, as he’ll be the first Italian driver in F1 since Antonio Giovinazzi in 2021. With his signing, Mercedes is betting on a fresh talent and a new era following Hamilton’s departure, who left an incredible legacy with the team.

Antonelli knows that stepping into Hamilton’s shoes is no small task, but he’s determined to make his own mark. He’s aware that comparisons will happen, but he’s focused on delivering the best results for the team. Wolff also admits that the young driver still has a lot to learn and assures that Mercedes will be with him every step of the way.

With Mercedes backing him and Russell as his mentor, the future looks bright for Kimi Antonelli. Formula 1 fans are already eagerly waiting for his 2025 debut, when he’ll get the chance to prove he’s ready to compete at the highest level and establish himself as one of the sport’s new stars.