“That’s what McLaren did for me” · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes are doing the right thing by giving Andrea Kimi Antonelli an opportunity to show what he can do as a Formula 1 driver.

The pair will drive together in the first practice session at Monza tomorrow as Antonelli makes his debut in an official F1 grand prix weekend. Just five days after his 18th birthday, Antonelli will drive George Russell’s car in the hour-long session.

Antonelli is widely expected to be confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement when he leaves Mercedes to join Ferrari next year. Hamilton said “that’s who the team should choose moving forwards, and time will tell what they end up deciding to do.”

Mercedes promoted Antonelli directly into Formula 2, bypassing Formula 3, after he won three junior series last year, including the Formula Regional European Championship. Hamilton sees Antonelli as part of a new wave of talented young drivers arriving in F1 as he did 17 years ago.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Monza, 2024 — Hamilton is impressed with “super-talented” Antonelli

“We’ve been watching him through the different formulas – naturally, he’s a Mercedes driver. I think that we are starting to see a lot younger drivers coming through and I think we’re just in a time where, there’s only 20 [F1] seats, and I think it’s time we’re starting to see this new wave come through.

“In terms of taking on another driver that’s had many, many years of experience as opposed to giving an opportunity to a youngster, that’s what McLaren did for me and it worked out well, in my opinion.”

Russell spent three years at Williams before getting a chance to join Mercedes. Hamilton acknowledged Antonelli would have to cope with a lot of pressure if he joined the team immediately, but pointed out “he would get to work with the best in class, learn from people that I’ve worked with for so many years.”

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“It is a lot of weight on someone’s shoulders,” Hamilton continued. “But as I said, it’s a great environment that I think they would be able to nurture and carry him through it.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Melbourne, 2007 — Antonelli was seven months old when Hamilton arrived in F1

“But there are other really good options so you’d have to ask Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal] which one he’s leaning towards.”

Antonelli was yet to have his first birthday when Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007, a fact he admitted made him feel old.

“I think he’s one of those young, super-talented kids that’s come through. I mean, he’s a young adult now, but he’s only 18. So I think it’d be good for people just to remember he is just turning 18 and he’s got a bright future ahead of him. I’m really excited to see and watch his progress.

“I saw a picture earlier on of us back in, I think, 2018, and he was one of the grid kids and I’m like shaking his hand at the front of the grid. So it obviously reminds you how old you are when you have those experiences. But I’m looking forward to seeing his growth and his journey through Formula 1.”