Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be thrown into the deep end next year after Mercedes announced on Saturday that the Italian teenager will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes once the seven-time world champion jumps ship for Ferrari.
Rookie Antonelli, who celebrated his 18th birthday last weekend, will partner George Russell as he attempts what he called the "impossible" task of stepping in for F1 icon Hamilton.
"He's such a great figure in the sport of today. And he has achieved so much in his career," Antonelli told reporters.
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