VIDEO: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to Replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes Despite High-Speed Crash

Teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, is set to be confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes, even though he suffered a dramatic high-speed crash during his debut Formula 1 weekend.

The accident occurred during first practice for the Italian Grand Prix when Antonelli lost control of his car at Parabolica, skidding across the gravel and slamming into the tyre wall sideways at a force of 45G. Despite the severity of the crash, Antonelli emerged unscathed and was cleared by medical staff, later participating in a Formula Two session that afternoon.

As a precaution, Antonelli will not race in the Italian Grand Prix, with George Russell stepping in as planned for the rest of the weekend. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who witnessed the crash, expressed support for Antonelli, stating, “He’s a rookie, he’s very young, and we are committed to investing in his future. These moments will happen, but his potential is evident.”

Antonelli, who celebrated his 18th birthday just last Sunday, is expected to take over from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton next season. Hamilton, who is rumored to be moving to Ferrari, was fastest in second practice with Lando Norris close behind, while Max Verstappen finished in 14th place.

Wolff emphasized that despite the crash, Antonelli’s performance during his limited laps has been impressive. “We have a problem with slowing him down rather than making him faster. What we saw today from just a lap and a half was astonishing.”

As Mercedes prepares for the upcoming season, Antonelli will have additional practice sessions to acclimate before his first race in Bahrain next March, succeeding Hamilton at the team.