MERCEDES PRODIGY KIMI ANTONELLI COMPARES DRIVING APPROACH TO HAMILTON AS HE PREPARES FOR F1 DEBUT
As Kimi Antonelli gears up for his much-anticipated step up to Formula 1 with Mercedes in 2025, the rising star has revealed that his driving style shares surprising similarities with Lewis Hamilton—the very driver he is set to replace at the iconic team. Speaking at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Antonelli opened up about his preparations for the top flight of motorsport and how Hamilton has played a key role in mentoring him during this transitional period.
The Mercedes protégé, who has secured two wins in his rookie Formula 2 season, made headlines after crashing during his debut F1 practice session at Monza. Despite the setback, the German marque confirmed that Antonelli will step into Hamilton’s shoes in 2025, alongside George Russell, after the seven-time world champion makes his switch to Ferrari in 2024.
HAMILTON’S INFLUENCE: MORE THAN JUST A REPLACEMENT
Though Hamilton’s time with Mercedes is winding down, Antonelli detailed how the Briton has been instrumental in helping him adjust to the demands of F1. “I didn’t expect that, he’s very nice and talks to me a lot,” Antonelli remarked. He went on to explain that Mercedes’ data revealed striking parallels between his driving style and Hamilton’s. “Looking at the data, his driving style seems similar to mine,” he said, emphasizing how valuable this insight has been in his preparation for Formula 1.
Antonelli has been closely following Hamilton’s approach to working with engineers and handling various race scenarios. “I was in Singapore and listening to him talk to the engineers – I learned a lot,” Antonelli added, highlighting the learning curve he faces as he prepares to take on the challenges of F1.
MONZA CRASH AND RUSSELL’S FRUSTRATION
Antonelli’s introduction to F1 wasn’t without its challenges. During the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, the Italian made an unfortunate error in the opening practice session, crashing on his second timed lap. His soon-to-be teammate, George Russell, was reportedly frustrated with the loss of valuable track time as a result of the incident. However, Antonelli is keen to move past the crash and focus on making further strides before he takes up his full-time seat in 2025.
“Russell was not happy with the shunt, but I’m putting that behind me,” Antonelli admitted. He is expected to make another appearance at an F1 weekend in the near future as part of his ongoing development.
PREPARING FOR THE BIG LEAP: STEERING WHEEL, PROCEDURES, AND BUTTONS
As Antonelli looks ahead to his debut season, he is fully aware of the complexities involved in mastering F1 machinery. “What I will have to get used to is hearing all the engineers on headphones, because I am one who talks very little,” Antonelli explained. The technical aspects of the sport, including learning procedures and mastering the steering wheel’s complex array of buttons, are crucial elements of his preparation.
“I will be getting a steering wheel seat at home soon to learn the starts and the various procedures,” Antonelli added, emphasizing how important it is to be familiar with the car’s controls. “You have to know where each button is without having to look, because if you touch a wrong button it is a mess.”
THE ROAD AHEAD
With Lewis Hamilton’s mentorship and the backing of Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli is poised for a bright future in F1. His ability to adapt and learn from one of the sport’s greatest champions is setting the stage for what could be a promising career. As he prepares for his full-time role in 2025, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see if the similarities between Antonelli and Hamilton translate into success on the track.
