Eighteen-year-old Formula 2 driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, has been selected as the successor to Lewis Hamilton, having signed a contract with Mercedes on Saturday. Despite the honor, Antonelli has made it clear that he does not see himself as a ‘replacement’. He is keen to protect his reputation and hopes to simply be the next Mercedes driver.
During a press conference, Andrea Kimi Antonelli emphasized the impossibility of replacing someone like Lewis Hamilton. “Lewis Hamilton is a legend in this sport and has achieved so much in his career,” he said. When Antonelli was born, Hamilton was on the verge of his first season with McLaren. Since then, the 39-year-old Englishman has won one hundred and five Grand Prix and seven titles. “I don’t want to be seen as his replacement, I’m just the next Mercedes driver,” Antonelli continued.
Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, echoed Antonelli’s comments. While he acknowledges that no one can replace Hamilton, he is confident that Mercedes can build on his success. “If we can give Russell and Antonelli a car that can win races and championships, we should be able to continue Hamilton’s legacy,” he added.
