Unbelievable: No one can ever truly replace Lewis Hamilton!

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula 1 season, following Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. The young Italian has expressed that he doesn’t want to be seen as Hamilton’s ‘replacement,’ although he acknowledges the support Hamilton has provided throughout his career.

Hamilton and Ferrari had reached an agreement before the start of the 2024 season, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that he quickly decided Antonelli would succeed Hamilton. However, the official announcement wasn’t made until the Italian Grand Prix weekend. In the months leading up to the announcement, Wolff had also been linked with potential interest in Max Verstappen.

Hamilton’s time at Mercedes is considered one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history. Together, they won six World Championships and dominated the constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021. Antonelli recognizes the enormity of the legacy Hamilton leaves behind.

“It’s impossible to replace Lewis Hamilton. He’s such a huge figure in the sport today and has achieved so much. I don’t see it as me replacing him, just as the next driver for Mercedes in 2025,” Antonelli told GPblog and others during a press conference at Monza. He added that he’s excited for the opportunity and appreciative of the support Hamilton has offered him over the years.

Wolff also highlighted Hamilton’s achievements and agreed with Antonelli’s sentiments. “When Lewis decided to pursue another challenge, no one can fully replace him in terms of his stature. But that doesn’t mean the team won’t thrive with two drivers who represent the future. If we can provide George [Russell] and Kimi a competitive car, I believe we will continue winning races and championships and hopefully maintain the legacy of titles that Lewis built with us,” Wolff concluded.