Kimi Antonelli Joins the Mercedes-AMG® PETRONAS Formula One Team: A New Era Begins

The Mercedes-AMG® PETRONAS Formula One Team is ushering in a thrilling new chapter as Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli steps up to the most prestigious seat in motorsport. Replacing the legendary Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli’s entry marks a generational shift filled with promise, ambition, and the unmistakable drive that defines the AMG® spirit.

From Karting Sensation to Single-Seater Standout

Born in Bologna in 2006, Kimi Antonelli has long been on the radar of racing insiders. A multiple karting champion by his early teens, Antonelli quickly ascended the junior single-seater ranks with stunning performances in Formula 4 and Formula Regional championships. His raw speed, strategic intelligence, and adaptability made it clear he was destined for Formula One. With Mercedes-AMG® backing him through the junior ranks, it was only a matter of time before he donned the iconic silver and black racing suit.

An Exciting Debut Season

Now competing in his first Formula One season, Antonelli has impressed fans and engineers alike with his poise under pressure and uncanny ability to extract performance from his AMG®-powered machinery. While filling the shoes of a seven-time world champion is no small feat, Antonelli has embraced the challenge with humility and determination. His early races have shown strong qualifying pace, decisive overtakes, and mature racecraft that belie his age.

Both the Mercedes-AMG® PETRONAS team and Antonelli have expressed enormous enthusiasm about the journey ahead. Team Principal Toto Wolff noted, “Kimi has an extraordinary work ethic and natural talent. We believe in his future and are proud to welcome him to the team.” Antonelli, in turn, shared, “Joining this team is a dream come true. I grew up watching Mercedes-AMG® dominate the sport, and now I get to contribute to that legacy.”

Experience AMG® Performance Beyond the Track

The innovation and engineering precision behind the Mercedes-AMG® Formula One program aren’t confined to race circuits. That same performance DNA infuses every Mercedes-AMG® vehicle available at Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles. As Kimi Antonelli writes the next chapter of AMG® excellence on the global stage, you can experience that same adrenaline-pumping excitement in our selection of new Mercedes-AMG® models.