Kimi Antonelli was quick to reject comparisons to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as he gears up for his first season in Formula One with Mercedes. (More Sports News)
Mercedes chose to replace Hamilton with 18-year-old Antonelli in what could prove to be an interesting subplot ahead of the opening race of the new season in March
Kimi Antonelli was quick to reject comparisons to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as he gears up for his first season in Formula One with Mercedes. (More Sports News)
Hamilton's switch to Ferrari sent shock waves through the sport, as the 40-year-old ended 12 successful years with Mercedes to link up with Charles Leclerc in 2025.
Mercedes chose to replace Hamilton with 18-year-old Antonelli in what could prove to be an interesting subplot ahead of the opening race of the new season in March.
Hamilton made his F1 debut when he was 22,바카라 웹사이트which has seen Antonelli likened to the Brit, though the teenager shrugged off such comparisons.
Speaking to바카라 웹사이트Sky Sports바카라 웹사이트as Mercedes launched their new partnership with Adidas, Antonelli said: "I feel like I'm just a new Mercedes driver.
"Saying that I'm replacing Lewis Hamilton I don't think is really correct because he's such a big figure in the sport, and he has done so much.
"I feel like I'm just the next Mercedes driver and really want to make my way and achieve great results and be successful."
Antonelli is considered an important figure at Mercedes, having joined their junior team in 2019,바카라 웹사이트and was linked with replacing바카라 웹사이트Logan Sargeant바카라 웹사이트at바카라 웹사이트Williams last season.바카라 웹사이트
He made his바카라 웹사이트free practice바카라 웹사이트debut at the바카라 웹사이트2024 Italian Grand Prix, taking part in the first session in바카라 웹사이트George Russell's바카라 웹사이트W15, setting the fastest lap before spinning out.바카라 웹사이트
The Italian바카라 웹사이트entered another free practice session at the바카라 웹사이트Mexico City Grand Prix,바카라 웹사이트where he finished 12th바카라 웹사이트after again ending his session prematurely with floor damage.바카라 웹사이트
Antonelli also featured alongside Russell in the post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit,바카라 웹사이트completing 62 laps and setting the fifth-fastest time overall.
But he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
"It's not going to be easy because my first year in F1, at the end of the day I'm racing against the 19 best drivers in the world," Antonelli said.
"And, of course, the world of motorsport, F1 especially, can be very brutal sometimes.
"But the thing is, I'm just going to try to stay focused on myself, try to work day by day, weekend by weekend, trying to improve myself."