Who are the Mercedes F1 drivers for 2025?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Today, the team is announcing its 2025 driver line-up, with 18-year-old Italian Kimi joining multiple Grand Prix-winner George behind the wheel for next season. Mercedes have signed rookie Kimi Antonelli as George Russell’s team mate for 2025, with the Italian stepping up from F2 to replace Lewis Hamilton. The Silver Arrows have been mulling the identity of who would race for them next season after Hamilton told them he was leaving at the end of the season to join Ferrari.Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has named George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the team’s priority for the 2026 Formula One season. The revelation comes after Max Verstappen was strongly linked to Mercedes.
Who did Mercedes replace in F1?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes for 2025 F1 season. Ickx explained that politics, marketing, and economics played major roles in Ferrari’s choice to bring in the seven-time world champion. Ickx pointed out that there was nothing wrong with Sainz’s performance, but Ferrari likely looked at the bigger picture and signed Hamilton instead.Hamilton reportedly left Mercedes for Ferrari because the latter offered him a longer contract and more money. Furthermore, he had been in a losing slump—with no wins in 2022 or 2023—and hoped to revive his career on the new team.Because he wasn’t replaced based on results, he was replaced because of a once-in-a-lifetime business and marketing opportunity. Ferrari was more than happy with Sainz. Ferrari only wanted to give him one year before they even knew they could get Lewis.Lewis wanted to continue with Mercedes, it was Mercedes that let him down ultimately. He knows the end of his career is near, he wanted a year with the choice of extending it, as well as an ambassador role for the team when he retires.Toto Wolff has opened up on how he first learned that Lewis Hamilton was set to leave Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, with the team boss initially hearing from Carlos Sainz’s father that the move was happening.
How much is Mercedes paying Kimi Antonelli?
For the 2025 season, Antonelli is earning a base salary of $2 million with Mercedes. That places him 14th on the driver salary list this year, tied with Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda. It’s a one-year contract, but the terms speak volumes. In 2025, Sainz Jr will earn a base salary of $10,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $10,000,000. Source: FORMULA 1 contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.Carlos Sainz Jr signed a 2 year contract with the Williams. In 2025, Sainz Jr will earn a base salary of $10,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $10,000,000.
Did Max Verstappen go to Mercedes?
Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will remain with Red Bull for the 2026 season ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, after months of speculation that he could join Mercedes. Max Verstappen is set to stay at Red Bull in 2026 after moving clear of a potential exit clause in his contract at the Belgian Grand Prix.Sergio Perez will stay involved with Red Bull in 2025 and will perform some “show runs” for the team despite losing his F1 seat. Last week, the Mexican driver lost his spot in the team after four years as Max Verstappen’s teammate, with Liam Lawson replacing him.Max Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull extends through 2028 but includes a performance-based escape clause that permitted him to exit early if he ranked outside the top three in the drivers’ championship by the summer break each year.
How much did Ferrari pay Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton was reportedly lured to Ferrari by a deal worth a staggering $446million which stretches far beyond his Formula 1 driving duties with the Scuderia. He is a proud owner of the Ferrari LaFerrari, the limited edition Ferrari 599 SA Aperta, worth $2. LaFerrari Aperta, worth $2. Hamilton’s most expensive car is the 1966 classic Shelby Cobra, estimated to be worth over $5 million.