Lewis Hamilton makes Kimi Antonelli observation after assuming huge F1 'burden'

Lewis Hamilton believes Kimi Antonelli has shown he is an "old soul in a young body" at assuming the "burden" and "weight" of racing in F1.

Antonelli, then 18-years-old, was the driver chosen as the replacement for seven-time world champion Hamilton after he left Mercedes for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, with the Italian enduring a mixed debut season. 

After finishing fourth on his Australia debut, scoring fastest lap in Japan, Sprint pole in Miami, and a first podium in Canada, Antonelli's form dipped during the summer, with the nadir coming at the Belgian GP. 

Antonelli rallied in the second half of the season, before unleashing his potential in 2026, and has taken eight grand prix wins thus far, including five in a row between China and Monaco, to open up a 102-point championship lead over George Russell in the sister car.

Should Antonelli win in the United States, Russell finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower, Antonelli will become the youngest-ever F1 champion - and the first Italian to do so since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Reflecting on his successor and likely 36th different F1 champion, the 30th explained how Antonelli had taken everything "in his stride."

"When I was [at Mercedes], I knew who was going to be replacing me. Kimi was around the team, following us a lot, particularly in the last year that I was there," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.

"And I think it was the right decision to create an opportunity for a young and up-and-coming driver. Kimi had shown his abilities in the lower categories and his enthusiasm, his charm and his good approach to everything. He was always fitting really well into the environment. 

"But I think he's really taken it in his stride. It's been really great to see his performances this year. It's massively impressive, and he deserves to be the champion.

"I know how amazing it is to work in that environment in the office back at the factory, with all the people, how hard everybody works and how much talent there is within that team. So, I already knew the support structure they would bring around him. 

"I could assume that he was going to be fine with the burden, sorry, the weight, you have on you when you have to do all these appearances and all these things pulled left, right and centre. 

"But I think he's taken it in his stride, and he's a relatively old soul in that young body, I would say."

[Article continues below]. 

Hamilton on Mercedes revival

Antonelli inherited Hamilton's race engineer, Peter Bonnington, when he joined Mercedes, with Hamilton-Bonnington the most successful driver-engineer pairing of all time, with 83 wins and six drivers' titles together.

Bonnington, who also worked with the other seven-time champion Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, was one of the Mercedes engineering team Hamilton also name-checked as helping Antonelli. 

"Getting to work alongside Bono is such an amazing experience," said Hamilton.

"But they've got so many great people in that team, and that's the reason why they are where they are. I honestly have such admiration for what they do. 

"Also, as I said, with Bono, he's amazing at really putting his arm around you and supporting you, as are [Andrew] Shovlin and Simon [Cole] and everyone in the team. I guess you never know how anyone's going to do under pressure until you see them. 

"To see them back at the top is no surprise to me because I got to experience it for many, many years there.

" I think in his first year, it's tough for anybody going into a seat like that, into a team like that, and getting up and running with all the expectations on your shoulders, the things you have, the commitment you have, all those sorts of things."