Who is Kimi Antonelli - the teenage star succeeding Hamilton?

Mercedes has finally made its choice - Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton next season when the seven-time F1 champion departs for Ferrari.

Antonelli, who only turned 18 last week, will partner George Russell for the 2025 season to complete his rapid rise to the top of the motorsport ladder.

But just who is Antonelli, and why has he shot to prominence onto the F1 grid at such a young age?

Antonelli was born on August 25, 2006 in Italy and was immediately introduced to the motorsport world by his father Marco, who raced in various GT championships.

For several years Antonelli competed in karting championships, rising through the ranks and securing various titles including the CIK-FIA European Championship OK class, joining an exclusive list of winners including Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

His talent behind the wheel of karting machinery shone through and attracted the attention of Mercedes who signed the Italian to its F1 junior programme in 2019.

In the second half of the 2021 season, Antonelli made his single-seater debut in the Italian F4 championship and impressed in the final round of the season at Monza where he scored three podiums in three races.

Antonelli remained in Italian F4 for the following season and dominated, taking 13 wins, 15 podiums, 14 pole positions and 14 fastest laps en route to securing the title by 104 points. He also competed in the ADAC Formula 4 championship and similarly commanded the series.

Antonelli's 2023 season saw him take part in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship during the European winter break and secure another title.

He then focused on the Formula Regional European Championship, with a consistent run of strong results again lifting him to championship success.

How Antonelli has shot to F1

Towards the end of the 2023 season, it emerged that Antonelli would be skipping Formula 3 and move straight to F2 with PREMA Racing.

The Italian immediately became a contender for Hamilton's drive at Mercedes in early February when the shock decision to join Ferrari was announced.

At that stage, Antonelli still appeared to be an outside bet, but as other contenders fell by the wayside, the Mercedes junior's case for a drive grew ever stronger.

Although the PREMA team is struggling in F2, Antonelli has managed to take two race victories this year.

His wins came after Mercedes began its private testing programme in old F1 machinery with the young star, building his experience as the likelihood of a promotion grew.

With Toto Wolff ending his very public pursuit of Max Verstappen for 2025, it all but sealed Antonelli's chances of a full-time drive with one of the sport's most successful teams. For Mercedes, it allows it to field a driver line-up comprised of junior team graduates.

Antonelli will complete his F2 season, as well as his private testing programme as he gears up for a permanent F1 race seat at Mercedes next year.