MONZA, Italy — Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, the team confirmed on Saturday.

Antonelli, 18, a product of the Mercedes junior academy, has been handpicked by team boss Toto Wolff to step into the seat left vacant when seven-time world champion Hamilton joins Ferrari.

The identity of George Russell’s teammate had been unclear since Hamilton’s Ferrari move was confirmed at the start of the year, although Antonelli had emerged as the favourite in recent months.

On Saturday, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Mercedes made its announcement.

“George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport,” Toto Wolff said in a statement.

“We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field.”

Antonelli had an auspicious start to F1 — the Italian took Russell’s car for first practice but spun out and into the barrier after just five laps, ending his session in early and embarrassing fashion.

However, the incident did little to dissuade Wolff about the decision.

After that crash, Wolff said: “He’s a rookie, he’s very young. We’re investing in his future and these moments, they will happen. They will continue to happen next year. A lot of highlights. We’d rather have a problem in slowing him down than making him faster. What we saw from one and a half laps was astonishing.”

Wolff had delayed the decision on Hamilton’s replacement while he pursued reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Wolff met with Verstappen’s father Jos and agent Raymond Vermeulen over the summer break but has cooled off the approach for the Red Bull driver for now.