Mercedes now told how Kimi Antonelli’s arrival in 2025 as Lewis Hamilton replacement could cause ‘unrest’

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Mercedes are three races away from having to deal with the daunting prospect of not having Lewis Hamilton in their ranks.

The seven-time world champion will be making the switch to Ferrari in 2025 on a multi-year deal, which is likely to be his final move in F1. The news completely shocked the world as Hamilton hopes to grab his record-breaking eighth world title with the Maranello squad.

The Brit has enjoyed monumental success with Mercedes over the last 12 years, having grabbed six of his seven championships and become the most successful driver in F1 history statistically. But after struggling to find performance in the ground effect era since 2022, Hamilton will embark on a new adventure with the famous Italian team next season.

With Hamilton leaving, George Russell will assume the role as team leader for 2025 and beyond; a role that he may already have had in 2024 given that his teammate is joining a direct rival.

And to partner Russell next season will be Italian sensation Kimi Antonelli, who will make the step up from Formula 2 and continue his meteoric rise up the motorsport ranks.

The new duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli may cause ‘unrest’ at Mercedes next season

With these two drivers in their line-up, Mercedes have one of the most exciting pairings in the sport next year alongside Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari and Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren.

Russell is the most underrated F1 driver according to Tom Clarkson after his impressive performance in torrential conditions at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The 26-year-old is currently beating Hamilton in the standings by just two points, having secured his second F1 win this season at the Austrian Grand Prix.

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His future teammate Antonelli is a top talent in racing and has quickly displayed his talent throughout his junior career. Now making the step to F1 and given how highly rated he is by Mercedes, the attention will certainly be on the Italian to see if he can live up to the hype.

This, according to Dutch journalist Mike Mulders, is why Mercedes may face some ‘unrest’ within the team, as Antonelli’s incredible rise may make Russell ‘feel that his chair legs are being sawed off’ as the attention shifts from Hamilton and goes straight to his replacement.

Discussing which team has the best driver duo for 2025, Mulders wrote via the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com: “I also rate the new Mercedes duo highly, but there too: a new duo.

“With a – potentially – great rookie (Andrea Kimi Antonelli) who still has to find his place, and a permanent value (George Russell) who may feel that his chair legs are being sawed off. Here too, unrest and that never leads to optimal performances, Mercedes is out.”

Is there too much pressure being placed on Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes?

Coming into F1 as an 18-year-old is difficult enough as it is, but doing so with Mercedes as the replacement for one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen will bring a ridiculous amount of pressure for Antonelli.

The Italian has had very limited experience in F1 machinery, having had a few private tests in older Mercedes cars. Antonelli has made two appearances in FP1 sessions this year at Monza – where he crashed after just 10 minutes – and at Mexico City.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything to know

It is clear how much Mercedes rate the young driver, but it is also clear that there is expectation for him to perform. Toto Wolff is hopeful Antonelli can beat Hamilton next season, which would be an incredible feat in his first season in F1, but it is also a perfect example of how much pressure the 18-year-old really is under.

David Coulthard thinks Antonelli’s second season will define his career, which is, while it does still put pressure on him to perform, a better way of looking at things, as 2025 will certainly be a learning year for the Italian at Mercedes.