Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli distances himself from comparisons to Lewis Hamilton, emphasizing that he sees himself as "just a new Mercedes driver" rather than a replacement for the seven-time world champion who recently moved to Ferrari.

"Saying that I'm replacing Lewis Hamilton I don't think is really correct because he's such a big figure in the sport and he has done so much," Antonelli told Sky Sports. "I feel like I'm just the next Mercedes driver and really want to make my way and achieve great results and be successful."

At just 18 years old, Antonelli acknowledges the challenges ahead as he prepares for his Formula 1 debut. Having progressed rapidly from Formula Regional to Formula 2 in just two seasons, he's aware of the steep learning curve awaiting him.

"It's not going to be easy because my first year in F1, at the end of the day I'm racing against the 19 best drivers in the world," he explains. "I'm just going to try to stay focused on myself, try to work day by day, weekend by weekend trying to improve myself."

The young Italian will join five other rookies making their full-time F1 debuts in Melbourne this March: Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Despite his ambitious mindset of wanting to win, Antonelli remains grounded, supported by a team helping him stay focused amid the pressures of top-level motorsport.

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