Mercedes offer hint over Lewis Hamilton’s F1 retirement plan as replacement fast-tracked.

Lewis Hamilton recently penned a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, but the Silver Arrows appear to still be pressing ahead with plans for life after the Brit

Lewis Hamilton’s potential future replacement Kimi Antonelli has been fast-tracked to Formula 2.

The Italian racer, who just turned 17 in August, is one of the most promising young drivers in single-seater racing. And Mercedes acknowledged that when they enrolled him in their young driver development program four years ago.

Over the last three seasons, Antonelli has won five championships in the junior formulae. He won the Formula Regional Middle East Championship this year before repeating the feat in the series’ European edition.

That success has seen him promoted to the official ladder to Formula 1 for 2024. But, notably, he will skip Formula 3 altogether and will continue to race for the Prema Racing team with which he is already so familiar in F2.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity, the adolescent from Bologna said. It will be a significant jump from Formula Regional to Formula 2. I’m aware that it will be extremely difficult because of how high the level is there. For me and the others, it will be a new car, but it will still be difficult.

“I don’t want to set expectations, but I’ll try to pick up as much knowledge as I can in testing to be ready for the first race, have fun as usual, and do a good job,” the driver said. I’m thrilled to stay with Prema because they are my second family and where I began my single-seater career. I adore doing business with them.

Antonelli will experience an F2 for the first time.

It is another hint that Mercedes continues to plan for life after Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion recently put pen to paper on a fresh two-year contract extension but, a few months shy of his 39th birthday, Hamilton is in the twilight of his glittering F1 career.

When it comes to who might eventually succeed him, team president Toto Wolff has already mentioned Antonelli as a major talent in whom Mercedes has high hopes. We have put money into the very talented Italian driver Antonelli. He proved to be really strong in F4 and won every race, which was fantastic to see, the Italian driver said.

However, we don’t want to overburden him with demands. Since Andrea is only 17 years old, we must allow him to mature rather than burning him. Everything must be done calmly.