Mercedes has announced the signing of 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who will succeed Lewis Hamilton next season, as stated by the Formula One team on Saturday.

The young Italian driver, who has achieved success with one sprint and one feature race win for Prema Racing in Formula Two this year, will team up with George Russell at Mercedes, as Hamilton prepares for a transition to Ferrari.

Antonelli expressed his enthusiasm about the promotion, calling it a dream come true and extending his gratitude to the Mercedes organization for their belief in him.

“Joining F1 has been my ambition since I was a child. I’m still learning a lot, but I feel prepared for this chance,” he stated in a release.

“I’m eager to work alongside George. He, like me, came up through the team’s junior program, and I have immense respect for him. I’m looking forward to learning from him and collaborating to achieve success on the track.”

Russell shared his excitement about teaming with Antonelli.

“I remember how supportive Lewis was during my time as a junior and since we became teammates. I’ve gained so much from him, and I hope to have a similar impact on Kimi,” he commented.

Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes F1, stated that Russell and Antonelli represent an ideal pairing to usher in the team’s next chapter.

“Kimi has consistently demonstrated the skill and speed required to excel at the highest level in our sport,” he remarked.

“We understand this will be a significant advancement for him, but he has impressed us during his F1 testing this year. With George as a teammate, he will have an experienced driver to learn from and refine his abilities.”

As it stands, Russell is in eighth place in the standings going into the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Hamilton is positioned sixth.