Lewis Hamilton sends clear message to Kimi Antonelli ahead of his debut Mercedes season

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a legend of the sport – and rightfully so, his legacy in Formula One will cement himself as one of the greatest to ever hit the grid.

A seven-time champion throughout his 17 years in F1, the now 39-year-old is in his final season with Mercedes ahead of his 2025 move to Ferrari and sits seventh in the championships with two wins. 

The Las Vegas Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton both qualify and finish second, with his teammate George Russell claiming the pole on Saturday and victory on race day.

After the race, the Mercedes driver was asked about what advice he would lend to prospective drivers within the sport – here’s what he had to say.

Hamilton believes that F1 rookies should ‘take their time’

There have been three debutants for the upcoming season confirmed at the time of writing – Jack Doohan will don the overalls of Alpine, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto will step up from Formula 2 to race for Sauber, and 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli will inherit Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes once the Brit moves to Ferrari.

When asked by an NBC reporter, via FIA, what tips he would give the 2025 rookie class in their ‘early days’, Hamilton responded: “Don’t do absolutely everything everyone tells you to do. Ask lots of questions. Take your time.”

Hamilton continued: “Don’t let the negativity get to you because, you know, people are so negative nowadays judging you non-stop.

“So stay off social media and keep your family and your closest friends close to you because they are the only ones that are your true friends and they’re going to be there for you when they go and get stuff.”

Mercedes teammate George Russell also offered Antonelli some advice ahead of his new teammate joining the grid next year.

Lewis Hamilton wasn’t speaking from experience

When quizzed on whether his comments on drivers facing negativity were related to himself, and his treatment over the years from critics, Hamilton was quick to rebuff.

He stated: “We’re talking about youngsters. We’re talking about 18-year-olds. And I remember when I was 22 and you’re thrown in a deep end. You’ve been given training as a young driver through the younger series, but you’re not most of them.

“[You] probably [won’t] have a PR person. The team will have a PR person, but they’re not looking out for you. They’re looking out for the team. And so you’re thrown in the deep end and you’re trying to be nice and people take advantage of you.”

Was this Lewis Hamilton’s message to Kimi Antonelli?

Hamilton’s comments seem especially important seeing as his replacement at the Silver Arrows will be teenager Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli, who is a driver that is very highly rated in the paddock at Brackley, could definitely benefit from Hamilton’s wisdom,/

There has not been a more hyped-up youngster than Antonelli in F1 since 17-year-old Max Verstappen entered the grid in 2015, but the Italian seems to be dealing with the pressure well.

In an interview with F1 TV, Antonelli spoke confidently, saying “[My team really help me] to cope with this pressure very well, and even though sometimes I still don’t cope with that perfectly, I still get the right support from Mercedes – but also from my family, so I’m really happy to be with them and really happy with the support they’ve been giving me, not only in the past but also nowadays.”

The Mercedes junior driver has been a success for PREMA in F2, claiming two victories and 13 points-scoring finishes throughout the year – despite a host of issues for his team, who have struggled with pace at points throughout the year.

Spotlight on Antonelli will be at an all-time high over the coming months – he would be shrewd to take the words of Hamilton aboard about how to deal with this attention.