Kimi Antonelli shared that Lewis Hamilton stopped by to visit him and his former team before the F1 Belgian Grand Prix. Antonelli has been selected as Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula 1 season, following the surprising announcement that the seven-time world champion will be leaving the team.
During his rookie season in F1, the Italian driver demonstrated promising speed, securing pole position at the Miami Grand Prix with an impressive lap and earning his first podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, since the European season began, Antonelli has faced challenges maintaining consistent form. This drop in his performance aligns with a dip in Mercedes’ overall competitiveness, as George Russell has only reached the podium once in his last seven races.
After the Spa race, Antonelli spoke about a conversation he had with Hamilton in the Mercedes hospitality area. “He came by to greet the team. We exchanged a few words,” Antonelli said. “He encouraged me to stay positive and reminded me that having a tough weekend is normal, advising me to keep believing in myself. That support was really encouraging.”
In a post-race interview with Sky Sports, Hamilton spoke about Antonelli and acknowledged the immense pressure on such a young driver. “You can’t truly grasp what it’s like at 18,” Hamilton said. “He’s doing amazing work, especially considering he was thrown into the deep end so early — he didn’t even have a driver’s license when he started racing. There’s a lot resting on his shoulders, but he’s supported by a strong team around him. He has Bono (Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s former race engineer) with him, which is crucial.”
Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, Antonelli faced a difficult weekend. He was eliminated in the first quarter-finals during both qualifying sessions. Reflecting on the race, he said, “The few laps I did in clear air were enjoyable, but getting stuck behind others was very frustrating because I couldn’t fully show my pace. When I got stuck, I ended up losing about two seconds. It was challenging, and I believe we need to focus more on qualifying to regain confidence in the car and start races from better positions.”
Fan Take: This development is pivotal for racing enthusiasts as it marks the beginning of a new era at Mercedes, a team synonymous with excellence. Antonelli’s progress and adaptation under this high-pressure spotlight could influence the future dynamics of Formula 1, making every race he’s in one to watch closely.
