Antonelli's journey from crisis to championship

Kimi Antonelli finished third at the Mexico Grand Prix and became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. The Italian driver's achievement is even more remarkable because of the difficulties he faced in his first F1 season last year.

When Mercedes announced Antonelli as a fast-tracked addition to its line-up in August 2024, the driver was about to turn 18. Expectations were very high. Almost two years later, Antonelli met those expectations by becoming world champion at the age of 20.

The start of the process, however, did not go as planned. Mercedes was caught off guard when Lewis Hamilton announced in February 2024 that he would be moving to Ferrari. The team had to find a new teammate for George Russell. Wolff's first target was Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Experienced names such as Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were also among the alternatives.

Antonelli had signed with Mercedes in 2019, at the age of 12. The young driver, who dominated the European karting scene, also stood out in the junior categories. Mercedes skipped Formula 3 and moved him directly into Formula 2 in 2024. It is unclear whether Wolff had planned to loan him to another team. However, Hamilton's departure changed all the plans.