Lewis Hamilton REPLACEMENT decision under-fire ahead of superstar's Ferrari switch

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Hamilton REPLACEMENT decision under-fire ahead of superstar's Ferrari switch

Kimi Antonelli will take over from Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

Kevin McKenna

Thursday 12 September 2024 01:00

The decision by Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli has come under-fire.

The Italian will replace seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2025, with Hamilton making a blockbuster move to Ferrari for next season and beyond.

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The confirmation of Antonelli's Mercedes promotion ended months of speculation over who would step into the Brit's seat, with Red Bull star Max Verstappen strongly linked with the soon-to-be-vacant spot.

Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year

Hamilton will make the move to Ferrari in 2025

Is Kimi Antonelli ready for Mercedes?

"I thought the pressure of Mercedes would be too much for Kimi and his debut, and that's the way it was, he spun out and caused a lot of damage to the car," the 76-year-old said.

Eddie Jordan previously owned an F1 team

"I still believe that there's a place for Kimi but it's not in Mercedes, that's the point I'm trying to make.

"I don't care how quick he is, he should be placed somewhere that will give Toto [Wolff] and his team the chance to learn for a year and come up that way."

Currently, Antonelli is competing in F2 but has endured a mixed season with Prema Racing, alongside future Haas driver Oliver Bearman.

The 18-year-old is a long way off top spot as things stand, but has shown glimpses of his talent by winning the sprint race in Silverstone, before following that up with his maiden feature race victory in Budapest two weeks later.

Max Verstappen Ferrari Mercedes Hamilton Kimi Antonelli Italian Grand Prix