Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says he decided Andrea Kimi Antonelli would be 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s replacement “five minutes” after the seven-time world champion told him he was join𝐆ing Ferrari.

18-year-old Antonelli was confirmed as168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell’s new teammate from 2025 by Mercedes on Saturday. The Italian w෴ill take the seat vacated by Hamilton, who is joining Ferܫrari.

Hamilton’s sensational switch to Ferrari was announced in February and Wolff 🧜has claimed he “immediately” knew he ꦗwanted Mercedes protege Antonelli to be the 39-year-old Briton’s successor.

“I m𒀰ade up my mind five minutes after Lewis Hamilton꧙ told me he was going to Ferrari,” Wolff said.

“Obviously we were discussing with other options, ༺and obviously the Max idea couldn’t be discounted completely looking at what happened at Red Bull, but instinctively that is the line-up wi🔥th these two that I always wanted.

“Bearing in mind the fast tracking that we did wi🍬th Kimi and everything that we did there too, but it was immediately what I want𒅌ed to do.”

Mercedes did not reveal details about the length of Antonelli’s contract, while Russell’s existing deal is due to expire at the end of next seas🐈🐟on.

But Wolff sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚtressed the pair are the “future” of Mercedes.

“We have cont🥀racts with George and Kimi that go much longer that are very com🉐plicated in terms of options etcetera,” he explained.

“This is a pressure cooker, Mercedes always h🐠as be🌄en a pressure cooker, but this is where we stand as a team today, we want to go with these two.

“Like we hav🐻e done in the past, we have always had very short contracts. Even with Lewis the last time it came around it was one plus one. This is in a way how the team operated.

“But I think what’s most important is to see how George and Kimi settle in, and I see no reason at that stage not giving them the faith a☂nd the trust of going for꧅ward.

“What that means for the term🎉s is something that we will discuss between ourselves, but we wouldn’t have gone for the line-up with these two if we wouldn’t believe 100 percent that they are the best choice for Mercedes.”