Between Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, respect and admiration are mutual

When Lewis Hamilton took the start of his first Grand Prix on March 18, 2007 in Australia, a couple was having a baby in Bologna (Italy). How could they have known, at that moment, that their then six-month-old son would find himself 18 years later alongside the seven-time world champion on the grid of Formula 1 ?

Kimi Antonelli is such a dazzling talent that his debut in the premier class barely waited until he came of age: at 18 years and six months, he will become the third youngest driver in the history of the category in Melbourne. Above all, the task is not easy for the recent 6th in Formula 2, as he replaces legend Lewis Hamilton at MercedesThe British, who left for Ferrari, does not lack superlatives when talking about his successor, whom he worked alongside at the Silver Arrows when he was part of the academy.

“I smile looking at this young man here.” explained the Briton at a press conference on Thursday, pointing to his neighbor on the left, Kimi Antonelli. “I’m just happy for him, he’s doing an amazing job and he’s handling himself really well. To have this first opportunity in Formula 1, it's something so, so special. And I know how many years of dedication it must have taken for him to start four years earlier than me (Hamilton was 22 years old when he started with McLaren, Editor’s note). »

"I remember when I first started the excitement of being behind the wheel." remembers the new Ferrari driver. “I remember being on the track with Michael Schumacher at the time. He was in front of me, and I was thinking, “Oh my God, it’s Michael Schumacher!” I followed him for several laps, until he came into the pits. It was a really surreal moment. It’s hard to believe that what you’re seeing is real. Because you grow up watching him every weekend, you make yourself a bacon sandwich, you turn on the TV and you watch the Grands Prix, you see him racking up successes. So, when I see the young people coming up, I always try to set a good example through what I do. And in a way, I want to protect them from everything that’s going to fall on them, because this world can be cruel. They need time.

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Antonelli: "Hamilton is a great driver and a great man"

Kimi Antonelli is not the driver who should be under the most pressure to deliver results this year. The Italian is expected to be the future of Mercedes, and after a meteoric rise – he was in FRECA fifteen months ago – Toto wolff will be patient with him. Especially since Mercedes is not placing great hopes in the 2025 season, already focusing on the new 2026 regulations where the star firm hopes to return to the top.

In the meantime, Kimi Antonelli will be able to enjoy a year of learning, where he will face Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari on the track, much to his delight. "It's quite surreal to be able to race alongside someone like him," said the young man, who shared his first press conference with his idol.  “I grew up watching him, and once I joined Mercedes, I watched him, and he was incredibly successful. So, it feels a bit weird to share the track with him, but also with all the other drivers. Because when you're used to seeing them on TV, and then you finally get out on the track with them, it's an incredible feeling.” continues the young man, corroborating the words of Lewis Hamilton, who watched Michael Schumacher on television before taking his place at Mercedes in 2013, as Antonelli is doing today in turn.


"Last year, I attended a few races trackside at the end of the season and started working with the team. Lewis was always nice to me, he even gave me some advice." reveals Kimi Antonelli.  "I also think he left me a message in the driver's lounge, so I'll be able to see him soon. He's always been very kind to me, and I'm really grateful for that. It shows that he's not only a great driver, but also a great man."

The strong relationship between the two drivers, who are 22 years apart in age, won't prevent them from remaining rivals once they don their helmets on Sunday morning for the start of the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia. Hamilton finished on the podium in his first F1 race in 2007. Antonelli knows what he still has to do to emulate his idol.

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