Lewis Hamilton replaced with 18-year-old in clear Mercedes succession plan

Outgoing Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will miss the primary apply lap on the Mexico Grand Prix as his substitute subsequent yr, teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, takes centre stage

Lewis Hamilton is not going to take part within the first apply session on the Mexico Grand Prix with Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli set to drive in his place.

Hamilton, 39, confirmed earlier this yr that he would depart Mercedes on the finish of the season and has endured a combined marketing campaign. The Brit failed to complete in the USA Grand Prix after crashing into the gravel throughout his third lap.

And it has now been revealed that the seven-time world champion will likely be changed by Antonelli, 18, who will take part in his second FP1 session of the season in Mexico Metropolis.

Antonelli additionally drove for Mercedes on the Friday again in September in Monza. However the gifted teenager’s session got here to an abrupt finish within the fifth session following a crash.

The Italian is about to switch Hamilton for Mercedes subsequent season when he hyperlinks up with Ferrari. He not too long ago revealed that the System 1 legend has been a giant assist behind the scenes by offering Antonelli with loads of help and encouragement.

He additionally moved to minimize discuss that he was changing the Brit, with Antonelli insisting that Hamilton is, fairly merely, irreplaceable. He stated final month: “I feel it isn’t doable to switchLewis Hamilton.

“He is such an ideal determine within the sport of at the moment, and he has achieved a lot in his profession, so I do not wish to [be seen] as his substitute I am simply the following driver for Mercedes in ’25, so I am actually excited for that.”

Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff defended Hamilton following his mishap in Texas after revealing that the motive force apologised after he failed to complete within the US.

Wolff stated: “Immediately, an incident in that nook that got here out of nowhere. He was not pushing. So the place I sit in the mean time, it’s one hundred pc not Lewis’ fault. That isn’t to say that I’m defending him – it’s clear.

“We’re eager on (ending on a excessive earlier than Hamilton’s Ferrari transfer), however how his mindset and the way the relationships are within the staff is pretty much as good as we ever had. Very first thing he stated, he apologised for the incident. As I stated earlier than, I don’t suppose it was his fault. One thing caught him out.

“We wish to have fun it and end it on a excessive and I’m certain we are going to. Whether or not we are able to do it with nice efficiency within the automobile, that might be unbelievable. But when not, then we are going to give it our greatest shot. I feel he will likely be what they’re and we predict that purple automobile is fast.”

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