The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has officially confirmed its driver lineup for the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship season, featuring established talent George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli. This announcement marks a significant moment for the team, blending Russell’s proven race-winning capabilities with Antonelli’s immense potential nurtured within the Mercedes junior program.
Kimi Antonelli’s promotion to a Formula 1 seat with Mercedes in 2025 realizes a lifelong ambition. Having joined the Mercedes junior program at just 12 years old in 2019, Antonelli has rapidly ascended through the motorsport ranks. His impressive career trajectory includes victories in major karting championships, such as the FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro Series. Transitioning to single-seaters, Antonelli continued his dominant form, securing both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022, followed by the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023. His current performance in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship, highlighted by two wins including a Feature Race victory in Budapest, solidified his readiness for Formula 1.
“To be named as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025 is an incredible feeling,” stated Kimi Antonelli. “Reaching Formula 1 has been my dream since childhood. I am deeply grateful to the team for their unwavering support throughout my junior career and the trust they have placed in me. I am eager to learn and dedicated to achieving the best possible results for Mercedes. I am also excited to partner with George. He is an exceptional driver with significant F1 experience, and I look forward to learning from him and contributing to the team’s success together.”
Markus Schäfer, Non-Executive Chairman & Mercedes-Benz AG CTO, shared his perspective on the team’s future driver composition: “This is an exciting period for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team as we introduce our driver lineup for 2025. We are embarking on the next chapter of our Formula 1 journey with a strong driver partnership. George has developed into an elite driver, demonstrating his talent and leadership within the team since joining. Kimi represents the next generation of Mercedes-AMG talent, following in the footsteps of George and Lewis. His junior record speaks volumes, and his raw speed is undeniable. We are thrilled to see him race in a Mercedes F1 car next season and are confident in his potential to excel.”
The confirmation of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as the Mercedes F1 2025 Drivers signals a strategic blend of experience and youthful dynamism for the team, setting the stage for an intriguing season ahead in Formula 1.
