Hamilton expresses "emotional" thoughts as successor Antonelli announced

F1 News

Lewis Hamilton gets emotional about Kimi Antonelli Mercedes F1 deal
6 September at 10:00
Last update 6 September at 10:00
1
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lewis Hamilton admitted to feeling "quite emotional" on the day his Mercedes successor was announced. On Saturday, during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes confirmed that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fill the vacant seat alongside George Russell. Hamilton decided to move to Ferrari in 2025, ending a 12-year tenure at Mercedes.

Hamilton has just eight Grand Prix weekends left at the German team, and his move is starting to become a reality. Perhaps even more so now that Toto Wolff has lined up and publicly confirmed Hamilton's successor. In Monza, Wolff held a Mercedes press conference alongside Antonelli and Russell. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 CEO, also paid a visit.

How does Hamilton feel about the Antonelli Mercedes announcement?

"I knew it would be announced [on Saturday] morning. I woke up and it was very, very, very surreal to just have it officially confirmed [about who is getting] my seat that I held onto for so long. So it was quite emotional this morning, but I’m really, really happy for Kimi and for this team – I know Kimi is gonna do a great job," Hamilton told the media present in Monza, including GPblog. After the announcement, Hamilton commented on Instagram and wished his successor well.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@mercedesamgf1)

Hamilton qualified in sixth place on Saturday at Monza but was furious with his own performance. He even suggested that Mercedes deserved better and felt like they would get that next season with Antonelli at the helm. But Hamilton went on to confess the emotion has been bubbling away all year, not just because of Antonelli's announcement.

"It's been there all year. I love my team so much. We've been through a hell of a lot together. So it will be emotional every single race because every race we do, it's the last time at that particular place. And every race we get closer and closer to the last time I'll be there at Mercedes. It's going to be tough. But my focus right now is just trying to do the best job as I can for the team," Hamilton concluded.