Hamilton Opens Up About Emotional Reaction To Kimi Antonelli's Announcement

Sunday, 01 September 2024 at 13:00

Lewis Hamilton revealed his reaction on the morning of the announcement that Andrea Kimi Antonelli would take over his Mercedes F1 seat.

On Saturday, August 31st, at 9 AM, the Mercedes Formula 1 team officially confirmed that Andrea Kimi Antonelli (their junior and F2 driver) would complete their driver lineup for 2025.

The 18-year-old will take over Lewis Hamilton's empty seat to race alongside and learn from now-experienced 26-year-old George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton is, of course, going to Ferrari (which was his own choice). Asked if it was strange to see Kimi Antonelli's announcement, he told the media at Monza Circuit on Saturday:

"I mean, I've known for ages ... but definitely this morning, I knew it would be announced this morning, and I definitely woke up, and it was very surreal, just to have it officially confirmed my seat is going and that I've held on for it for so long."

"I was quite emotional this morning. But really happy for Kimi and for this team. I know Kimi is going to do a great job."

Lewis Hamilton shaking hands with 12-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the grid ahead of the 2018 Italian Grand Prix at Monza Circuit.

Lewis Hamilton handshaking young Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the 2018 Italian Grand Prix

Funny enough, as you can see in the picture above, Lewis Hamilton has already met with Kimi Antonelli for the first time during the 2018 Italian Grand Prix race weekend.

The Italian (future F1) driver was only 12 years old back then, and no one could have predicted he would take over the seat of the seven-time World Champion in Mercedes seven years later.

Antonelli asserted he wasn't replacing Hamilton but rather that he was just the next Mercedes driver. When the media put this statement to the seven-time World Champion, he responded:

"Yeah, he's a great kid, and he's got a great family around him, good head on his shoulders, and he's very talented. He's gonna do great. I'm really excited for him."