Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli emphasizes he shouldn't be viewed as Lewis Hamilton's replacement, acknowledging the seven-time world champion's significant legacy in Formula 1.

"I'm just a new Mercedes driver," Antonelli told Sky Sports. "Saying that I'm replacing Lewis Hamilton isn't really correct because he's such a big figure in the sport. I'm simply the next Mercedes driver aiming to achieve great results."

The 18-year-old Italian will partner George Russell at Mercedes following Hamilton's move to Ferrari. Despite his rapid ascent from Formula Regional to Formula 1 in just two seasons, Antonelli maintains a realistic perspective about the challenges ahead.

"Racing against the 19 best drivers in the world won't be easy," he acknowledges. "F1 can be very brutal sometimes. I'll focus on improving myself day by day, weekend by weekend, while maintaining a winning mindset."

Antonelli has prepared for his F1 debut through extensive testing of previous cars (TPC). He joins five other rookies on the 2024 grid: Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto, all set to make their full-time Formula 1 debuts at the Melbourne season opener in March.

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