#12 · Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
The teenager Mercedes hand-picked to replace Lewis Hamilton. Won twice in his rookie year and arrived at the start of 2026 leading the championship.
Why he matters
Mercedes signed Antonelli straight from F2 in 2025 to replace Lewis Hamilton. The decision was bold: the team brought up an 18-year-old to inherit one of the most desirable seats on the grid. The bet looked like a stretch in winter testing and looked vindicated by the summer. By the start of 2026 he was leading the championship.
How he drives
Antonelli is unusually composed for his age. He doesn’t make rookie-pattern errors: no early-season mid-corner mistakes, no panicked overtakes. His best laps come from clean lines and very late braking, like a more measured Hamilton.
Watch for
- Starts. He is one of the best on the current grid at converting grid position on lap one.
- Wet sessions in qualifying. He ranked top-three in Q1/Q2 in the wet four times in 2025.
- His radio in race trim. He asks for less feedback than any other driver in the paddock.
Career receipts
Through the 2026 season
3
Race wins
8
Podiums
2
Pole positions
0
Championships
Last race
Decoder breakdown of the most recent round