Antonelli tries his hand at the wheel of the new Mercedes… CLA

In 2025, two of the most anticipated new features of Mercedes will make their appearance on the big automotive scene. On the circuits, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will have the difficult task of succeeding Sir Lewis Hamilton alongside George Russell. On the road, the all-new CLA will be presented as a world premiere. Before that, the new star and the new car got to know each other in a nice little film aptly named “Charging up for 2025”, “Se recharger pour 2025” in French!

Before hitting the track for pre-season testing, F1, Antonelli has embarked on a journey to the snow-covered summit of a mountain in the European Alps. Driving in freezing weather through the valley is something special. His car, a camouflaged version of the future CLA in a garish red livery, shows off its energy recovery capabilities.

By the end of the drive, the CLA had easily generated enough electricity to plug in and power a Christmas tree decoration. The new CLA aims to be a benchmark in terms of efficiency. To achieve this, braking relies heavily on regeneration rather than the traditional mechanical system, which optimizes battery charging during deceleration. More recovered energy means greater range. Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli will race alongside George Russell in 2025, with both drivers being pure products of the brand's Junior program.

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