On Saturday, during the Italian GP, Mercedes announced its driver line-up for the upcoming 2025 season.
Tags: 2025 Andrea Kimi Antonelli George Russell Mercedes Published 31. 08 2024 — GPF1.cz
Eighteen-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli will join multiple grand prix winner George Russell next season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said of the announcement:
“We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new lineup is perfect for opening the next chapter of our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior program and our belief in homegrown talent. George proved that he belongs among the best riders in the world. Not only is he fast, consistent and determined, but he has also developed into a strong leader in the team. Kimi continues to demonstrate the talent and speed needed to compete at the top of our sport. We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in F1 testing this year and we will support him every step of the way in his learning process.
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In Georg, he has an experienced teammate from whom he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will be of great benefit as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the grid.”
George Russell joined the team’s junior program in 2017 and his rapid rise in Formula One saw him win the GP3 and F2 championship titles in his first season. After three years at Williams – including an impressive showing for Mercedes in Bahrain in 2020 – he was promoted to partner Lewis in 2022, with his first F1 win coming the same year at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Russell said: “I’m really excited to be working with Kimi in 2025. His results in the junior formula are impressive and his promotion is well deserved. He is a fantastic young talent and one of the graduates of our junior programme. I look forward to using the experience I have gained on my own journey to advise Kimi on his transition to F1. I know how much of a support Lewis has been to me throughout my time as a junior driver and since being his teammate. I learned a lot from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi.
As a team, we are building a very positive atmosphere towards next year. We continue to make progress on the track and work hard to put together all the elements that will allow us to fight for the world title. It’s a really exciting journey we’re on; I am confident that Kimi and I can continue to move the team forward and help deliver on the promises we make.”
Kimi’s meteoric rise through the lower ranks of motorsport saw him join the team’s junior program in 2019 as a 12-year-old. After great success in karting, including titles in the FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series, he switched to Formula One – where he won the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022 and the European Formula Europe Regional Championship title in 2023. In 2024, the Italian moved to FIA Formula 2 and did great. He has claimed two wins so far this season, including an impressive opening race in Budapest.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes factory driver alongside George for 2025,” said Kimi Antonelli. “Getting into F1 is a dream I’ve had since childhood; I want to thank the team for the support they have given me in my career so far and for the trust they have shown me. I’m still learning a lot, but I feel ready for this opportunity. I will focus on improving myself and performing at my best for the team.
I’m also really excited to be George’s teammate. Like me, he went through the team’s junior program and is a person I have a lot of respect for. He is super fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner and has already helped me improve as a rider. I look forward to learning from him and working together on results on the track.”
Markus Schäfer, Non-Executive Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-Benz AG, added:
“It’s an exciting time for the team as we unveil our 2025 rider line-up. Next year we open the next chapter in our story and we have a fantastic partnership to do so. As a multiple Grand Prix winner, George developed into a top driver. It has been a pleasure to watch him come through the team’s junior program, establish himself in F1 in recent years and become a team leader. Kimi, like George and Lewis, is one of our homegrown talents with a very promising future. His results at the junior level are incredibly impressive and his raw speed is clearly evident. I can’t wait to see him in the race seat next year and watch his extraordinary talent shine in a Mercedes F1 car.”
