Lewis Hamilton's advice for young Kimi Antonelli ahead of Mexican GP outing revealed

Lewis Hamilton shared a piece of advice with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is set to drive the W15 in FP1 at the Mexican Grand Prix. This will be the youngster's second opportunity to drive the car.

Earlier this season, Antonelli had his first official run in the W15 during the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Unfortunately, he spun out at Parabolica and crashed. Despite the incident, the team was impressed enough to sign him for the 2025 F1 season.

As he prepares to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes once again, Lewis Hamilton shared a little piece of advice from his vast experience in racing. He asked the 18-year-old to enjoy the lap while pointing out the potential issues he could face at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

"Kimi is young and he's learning from his first outing in Monza," Hamilton said. "I think what's key is, and as I spoke to him, he doesn't have to set the world alight on the first lap, just build into it, enjoy."

"I told him the track is really dirty early on, and whatever we're faced with we'll handle, but I don't think he'll have any problems at all," he added.

---

Kimi Antonelli prepared to drive in Lewis Hamilton's W15 in Mexico

The circuit in Mexico is set to be a new challenge for Kimi Antonelli. The altitude alters the air pressure which can impact cornering and straight-line speed. Preparing himself to face this challenge, the young Italian said:

"I’m looking forward to driving in FP1 and playing my part in helping the team make a good start on track this weekend. It is a new circuit for me and one I have been working hard to prepare for. The altitude makes it unique and it’s a challenge I’m excited to experience."

"I want to thank the team for giving me this opportunity to contribute," he added.

Antonelli is expected to be a strong replacement for the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton. He remained extremely competitive in the Formula Regional Series'. His strong performances allowed him to skip Formula 3 and directly enter Formula 2 with Prema Racing this year. A member of the Mercedes Junior Team since 2018, Antonelli has proven to be a strong choice for the team.