Will Antonelli follow in Hamilton’s footsteps in debut F1 season?

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is the most highly-touted rookie in F1 since Max Verstappen a decade ago.

With Lewis Hamilton headed for pastures new at Ferrari, the talented Italian youngster will partner George Russell for the Brackley-based squad in the 2025 F1 season.

In doing so, he will have the opportunity to emulate the seven-time F1 drivers’ champion – if he can take the fight to his more experienced, grand prix-winning team-mate.

It is not quite the daunting task Hamilton faced alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren in 2007, but Russell is nonetheless expected to comprehensively beat Antonelli in their first season together.

However, if the 18-year-old can prove to be as good as anticipated quicker than expected, just how close will the two Mercedes drivers be in the campaign to come?

After winning four times across the 2024 season, the German marque is hoping to remain competitive in the final year of the current regulations cycle.

If it can do so, Antonelli could find himself in the hunt for grand prix victories sooner rather than later – as Hamilton did the year following Mercedes’ newest driver’s birth.

Russell, meanwhile, will want to kick on from a strong season last year. If Mercedes can deliver a race-winning package, the 26-year-old may have championship aspirations.

Who do you think will score the most points at Mercedes this year? Let us know in the comment section and by voting below in the latest RacingNews365 poll.