How Mercedes has built a ‘phenomenal’ support network around Kimi Antonelli

The arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes is one of the most anticipated driver moves of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The 18-year-old Italian will be the third-youngest driver in the history of F1, having impressed on his way up the junior single-seater ladder and in karting. Toto Wolff thinks Antonelli is the next Max Verstappen, having signed him to a multi-year deal to replace seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Even though his first official outing ended in a crash in front of his home crowd in Italy, Antonelli has been testing with Mercedes this year and already impressed engineers. Former F1 engineer Rob Smedley was also impressed by Antonelli’s data, having studied it as part of his engineering consultancy company.

Wolff has been quick to downplay any expectations for the star, in a bid to prevent too much media hype from impacting his performance on track.

It is this ‘phenomenal’ support network that has helped Antonelli in the early stages of his F1 career according to the author of Inside Mercedes: Life in the Fast Lane, Matt Whyman when speaking to TalkSport.

Mercedes builds vital ‘support network’ for Kimi Antonelli ahead of F1 debut

Antonelli will be entering F1 at the deep end next season when he races for a team that will be expecting strong results out of the box, especially given their for this year.

Following his crash at Monza, Antonelli said the team was ‘very supportive’ and that they have been working on his development ahead of his full-time drive. Whyman says this support network will be vital in the early stages of his Mercedes career.

“They’re very aware of his youth and also equally aware of his potential. The support network around Kimi is phenomenal, not just as a driver but as a young male who is going to be stepping into some very big shoes and has got to establish himself as not just a driver but as the replacement for Lewis Hamilton,” said Whyman.

“There is a great deal of care and attention going into that and I think they just want to give him the space and focus and support to show what he can do.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli faces challenge against George Russell

Going up against George Russell will be a big challenge for Antonelli, after the Briton has established himself as a team leader.

Russell was brought through to F1 by Mercedes’ driver development programme and while he has only won two races in his career, the Briton has managed to beat Hamilton in his debut year with the team.

Russell has also managed to win at least one Sprint race, while also achieving four pole positions in his Mercedes career so far. He will also face some pressure in 2025 however, given it will be his eighth season in F1.

Hamilton has been helping Antonelli ahead of the transition over the winter, in what will likely be valuable advice for the teenager after the Briton also made his debut for a top team at a young age in 2007.