Lewis Hamilton confesses ‘surreal...’ as Mercedes successor confirmed for

Lewis Hamilton confesses ‘surreal…’ as Mercedes successor confirmed for F1 2025

Lewis Hamilton has opened up about experiencing “surreal emotions” as his seat at Mercedes was officially filled, signaling the dawn of a new era for the team at Brackley. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari, and Mercedes recently announced his replacement during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Hamilton’s successor, Kimi Antonelli, a highly-regarded Mercedes junior driver, will take over the British driver’s cockpit in 2025. The announcement marked the official beginning of the transition away from the Hamilton era at Mercedes. On Saturday morning, after months of speculation about who would take the legendary seat, Mercedes confirmed Antonelli’s promotion to the senior team.

Hamilton, who has been the face of Mercedes’ Formula 1 success for more than a decade, expressed his mixed emotions about the announcement. Despite knowing about the decision for some time, Hamilton admitted that the official confirmation hit him hard. He described waking up on the day of the announcement with a sense of surrealism, realizing that his seat, which he had occupied for so many years, was now being passed on to another driver.

“It was very, very surreal to have it officially confirmed that my seat is going. I’ve known for ages, so I wasn’t surprised, but it still felt emotional when the announcement came out,” Hamilton shared. “It’s a seat I’ve held onto for so long, and it’s strange to see it go. But I’m really happy for Kimi and the team. I know he’s going to do a great job.”

Although Hamilton didn’t participate in the celebratory media sessions that followed the announcement, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and the new team line-up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli appeared in front of the cameras, emphasizing the beginning of a fresh chapter for the team. Mercedes also confirmed that Hamilton’s long-time race engineer, Pete Bonnington, would take over as Antonelli’s race engineer starting in 2025. Bonnington, who has been instrumental in Hamilton’s success at Mercedes, was recently promoted to head of race engineering within the team.

Hamilton, who qualified sixth at Monza, admitted that the qualifying result did little to improve his mood on a day filled with mixed emotions. While he remains committed to delivering his best for the team, the reality of his impending departure from Mercedes is becoming increasingly palpable with each passing race.

“I love my team so much. We’ve been through a lot together, so it’s going to be emotional every single race from now on,” Hamilton said. “Every race we do is the last time at that particular place. Every race brings us closer to the last time I’ll be in that Mercedes. It’s going to be tough, but my focus is on doing my best job for the team and finishing on a high.”

Hamilton acknowledged that every remaining race with Mercedes would hold special significance, marking the final chapter in one of Formula 1’s most successful driver-team partnerships. As the team prepares for the future with Antonelli, Hamilton is determined to ensure that his final season with Mercedes is one to remember.

Despite the emotional toll of the announcement, Hamilton expressed nothing but praise for Antonelli, who has been a rising star within the Mercedes junior program. The 17-year-old Italian driver made it clear during his press sessions that he doesn’t see himself as replacing Hamilton but rather as the next driver at Mercedes.

“He’s a great kid,” Hamilton said of Antonelli. “He’s got a great family around him and a good head on his shoulders. He’s very talented, and I’m excited to see what he can do with the team. He’ll do great.”

With the countdown to his final race with Mercedes officially underway, Hamilton remains focused on delivering top performances in his remaining races while also coming to terms with the end of an era. The emotional weight of the impending transition is evident, but Hamilton is committed to leaving on a high note, both for himself and for the team that has been his home for so long.