The seven-time World Championship winner Lewis Hamilton is doing his last season for Mercedes. In the spring, the Briton made it clear with Ferrari for 2025.
Now the German stable is fetching the replacement from its own ranks. Antonelli is currently driving for Mercedes in the junior class Formula 2.
"This is proof of the strength in our junior program and our faith in home-grown talents," says Totto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, in a press release.
On Friday, the 18-year-old got to take over the upcoming teammate George Russell's training spot ahead of Sunday's F1 race in Italian Monza, but it ended already after less than six laps and ten minutes. Then Antonelli lost control of the car and crashed into a barrier.
Lewis Hamilton won four consecutive World Championship titles for Mercedes between 2017-2020, but the last three years have seen the Dutchman Max Verstappen win the championship in his Red Bull car.
