Kimi Antonelli eager to replicate one thing Lewis Hamilton did in ‘incredible’ rookie F1 season

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after the seven-time champion’s move to Ferrari and wants to replicate one aspect of his rookie F1 season.

The Italian will become the third-youngest driver, so far, to ever start a Formula 1 race when Antonelli hits the grid for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix on March 16. Mercedes have given the 18-year-old his breakthrough after losing the most successful F1 driver to date to Ferrari.

Hamilton shares the record with Michael Schumacher for the most titles after claiming six of his seven at Mercedes. The 40-year-old won his first crown for McLaren back in 2008 in just his second year on the grid and was just one point from winning the title as a rookie in 2007.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli wants to replicate Lewis Hamilton’s development as a rookie F1 driver

Kimi Raikkonen denied Hamilton the 2007 Formula 1 drivers’ championship and remains the last Ferrari pilot to lift a title. The Finn’s victory at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix put him above Hamilton as the Briton could only achieve P7 following an early gearbox problem.

But what stood out to Antonelli as Hamilton fought for the drivers’ title as a rookie was how consistent the Stevenage-born ace was with McLaren in 2007. The Briton was 22 at the time of his debut in the 2007 Australian GP and took a top-five finish in 14 of the 17 Grands Prix.

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Hamilton even started his rookie year with a podium in each of his first nine races, including taking his first win in round six at the Canadian Grand Prix. Yet above the trophies, Antonelli admires how Hamilton kept evolving during his rookie season and hopes to now replicate it.

“Looking back at his 2007 season, which was incredible because he was close to winning the championship in his debut year, the most impressive thing was his consistency,” the Bologna boy noted at F1 75 at The O2 in London.

“What [Hamilton] did really well was start well and then keep evolving without trying to do too much. That’s why he had an incredible season, and that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is right to replicate Lewis Hamilton’s evolution but podiums may not follow

Hamilton had a slight advantage as a rookie in 2007 compared to Antonelli in 2025 as he hit the Formula 1 grid whilst McLaren and Ferrari were the clear teams to beat. But this season Mercedes start the term hunting McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull after an up-and-down 2024.

Even Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff does not expect Antonelli to win in Australia or be fighting for pole position from the start of his rookie season. The Silver Arrows expect it will take time for the Italian to learn how to handle a Formula 1 car in a race before challenging.

Mercedes did not understand why George Russell won in Las Vegas last term, as well as why their car struggled in hotter conditions in Hungary. So, Antonelli might have the right idea to focus on replicating Hamilton’s consistent evolution as a rookie after replacing him this year.

That is not to stop the Italian from striving to secure some silverware, with Antonelli looking to win from his debut in Australia. But the teenager has a good mindset through a desire to grow as Mercedes may eventually opt to sacrifice 2025 to focus on the 2026 F1 regulations.