Potential Lewis Hamilton replacement Kimi Antonelli names NBA legend as favorite athlete outside F1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton's potential successor at Mercedes, recently opened up about his favorites outside the racing world, naming NBA legend Michael Jordan as his favorite athlete.

The Mercedes Junior driver recently participated in a questionnaire, shedding light on his interests outside of motorsports. Antonelli named basketball as his favorite sport beyond racing. The 17-year-old expressed his keen interest in the NBA and expressed his desire to watch a playoff game from courtside.

Antonelli also revealed that Chicago Bulls legend and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan is his favorite NBA player. While he admires many current players, he named Los Angeles Lakers ace LeBron James as his favorite contemporary player.

"I will say basketball, Yeah I really like NBA especially. And I would love to go and watch a game, hopefully soon. But yeah, I really watch the playoffs of NBA," Antonelli said.

"He's not playing anymore, but Michael Jordan, and of the ones now, I will say, I have a few but mainly LeBron. Yeah, LeBron James," he added.

In addition to his interest in American sports, Kimi Antonelli shared his plans for a road trip across the United States with friends later this year and also mentioned that New Zealand was on his bucket list.

"I really like the US. That's why this year I'm going there. I will do a road trip with my friends, because I really like the US. Just brings me really good vibes. But I would also love to visit New Zealand, because many people talk well about it," he stated.

Much like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli is a star in the making, and is touted as the favorite to replace the Ferrari-bound Hamilton. Antonelli, who turns 18 later this month, is poised for an early debut in the pinnacle of motorsports.

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Ollie Bearman is rooting for Kimi Antonelli to join Mercedes

Following his impressive debut for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian GP, Prema F2 driver Ollie Bearman was announced to join the Haas F1 team for 2025 and beyond. With his F1 seat secured, Bearman is hopeful that his teammate Kimi Antonelli will also make the jump to Formula 1 next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports in a recent interview, Bearman said:

"I hope for him [Kimi] that he will be in F1 as well because he deserves it. One day I hope to fight for a world championship with him because I think that’s the trajectory that we’re both aiming for."

The Prema drivers have experienced contrasting fortunes in Formula 2 this season, with Antonelli occupying seventh place in his rookie season. Bearman, on the other hand, occupies 15th place in the standings, and continues to hold 14th place in the F1 standings, thanks to a seventh-place finish in his one-off appearance.

Antonelli has not yet been officially announced as Hamilton's replacement for 2025, but all reports indicate that he will be joining Mercedes.