Kimi Antonelli Issues Emotional Response to Lewis Hamilton’s H…read more
Kimi Antonelli, the teenage prodigy chosen to succeed Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, has finally come face-to-face with a deeply personal note left behind by the seven-time world champion. The emotional moment occurred during the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend at Imola, Mercedes’ first European race of the season — and therefore Antonelli’s first chance to occupy Hamilton’s old driver’s room in the team’s European motorhome.
The note, handwritten by Hamilton in 2024 during his final season with Mercedes, was left as a surprise for Antonelli, who was publicly confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement during the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. Now, almost a year later, the 18-year-old finally discovered the message — and the emotional reaction was captured by the Mercedes team and shared on social media. The Italian, visibly moved, took a moment to reflect on the impact and significance of the gesture from one of Formula 1’s most iconic figures.
Speaking in a press conference after reading the message, Antonelli shared just how much it meant to him. “Reading the message, it filled my heart to receive such a message from such a figure in the sport,” he said. “He’s done so much and he’s still right there giving his best. He’s one of the best in history and to receive such a message of course it’s amazing.”
Antonelli revealed that the message contained not only well wishes but also advice — a personal and motivational touch that clearly left an impression. “In the message it contains some advice and I also use it as a motivation to go out there and do my best because it doesn’t happen every day,” he continued.
When asked whether he would keep the note, Antonelli responded without hesitation: “Yeah! It’s actually on the wall. I’ll keep it there because the message is so nice. I just want to leave it there because every time I enter the room I can see the message and it’s also a really good reminder.”
Though the full contents of the message remain private, Mercedes race team coordinator Stephen Lord offered fans a glimpse into the nature of Hamilton’s words. Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Lord described it as a warm welcome from Hamilton to his successor. “It was a note to Kimi and it was basically welcoming him to his new room, and it was wishing him the best of luck, saying some really nice things about the team and how, ‘if you care for them, they’ll care for you because they’re a great team’,” he explained. “I thought, ‘wow, what a nice thing to do.’”
In a touching move by the team, the message has now been preserved permanently. “We’ve had glass cut and it’s now covered in the room so it will be there forever more,” Lord added, highlighting the symbolic passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
Hamilton’s gesture reflects the high regard in which he holds the Mercedes team, even after his departure, and demonstrates a heartfelt act of mentorship toward the young Antonelli. It’s a rare display of camaraderie and legacy in a sport often defined by fierce competition and rapid transitions. For Antonelli, stepping into the shoes of one of the greatest F1 drivers in history is no small task, but the encouraging words from Hamilton serve as both a morale boost and a reminder of the values that built the team’s past successes.
As the new season continues to unfold, Antonelli’s journey with Mercedes will undoubtedly be closely followed. The emotional connection to Hamilton’s message only deepens the narrative, adding a human touch to a high-pressure role in the world’s most elite racing series.
Whether Antonelli can live up to the lofty expectations remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he begins his Formula 1 journey not just with the hopes of a team behind him, but with the blessing of a legend etched onto the very walls of his new home.
