The teenager Kimi Antonelli was chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton next year at Mercedes, a day after his Formula One debut ended with the 18-year-old Italian driver crashing into a wall.
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The team principal Toto Wolff had said that the crash in the first practice session of the Italian Grand Prix would not affect Antonelli's chances, and the confirmation of his appointment as George Russell's teammate was announced prior to the last practice session on Saturday at his home event.
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There were many speculations about who would replace Hamilton at Mercedes, ever since the seven-time Formula One champion announced he would leave the team to go to Ferrari at the end of the season. There were even attempts to attract the three-time defending champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull, but Wolff said he had always wanted to choose Antonelli, who has been with Mercedes since joining their junior program at the age of 12.
"I made the decision five minutes after Lewis Hamilton told me he was going to Ferrari," Wolff told journalists at Monza. "Obviously, we discussed other options and also considered the idea of Max, we did not completely rule it out when we saw what was happening at Red Bull."
"But instinctively, that alignment with these two is what I always wanted," he concluded.
However, the door does not seem to be completely closed for Verstappen to sign next year, as Mercedes said that the Russell-Antonelli lineup was only for 2025.
Wolff appeared shy when asked about the matter. He said he believes “100% that they are the best option” for the team, but acknowledged that “the most important thing is to see how George and Kimi adapt” to the “pressure cooker” that is Mercedes.