Lewis Hamilton’s message to Toto Wolff the day before Kimi Antonelli’s F1 debut was right all along

Lewis Hamilton's early backing of Kimi Antonelli has been validated after the 20-year-old won the Formula 1 world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff chose Antonelli as Hamilton's successor, taking a major gamble over experienced drivers such as Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso. Antonelli sealed the Drivers' Championship in his sophomore campaign, becoming Mercedes' fourth F1 world champion.

Antonelli broke Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest world champion in F1 history by three years after recording nine wins and 16 podiums across 19 races. Ahead of Antonelli's debut practice session at Monza in 2024, Hamilton publicly urged Mercedes to trust youth, citing how McLaren gave him his start in 2007. Despite an underwhelming rookie season, Wolff retained Antonelli, who delivered the world title in 2026.