<p>Mercedes have signed 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton next year, the Formula One team racing team said on Saturday.</p><p>Italian Antonelli, who has won one sprint and one feature race for Prema Racing in Formula Two this year, will join George Russell at Mercedes, with Hamilton switching to Ferrari.</p><p>Antonelli said the move up was a dream come true and thanked the Mercedes team for supporting him and having faith in him.</p><p>"Reaching F1 is a dream I've had since I was a small boy... I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity," he said in a statement.</p>.Motor racing-Pole-to-flag Hamilton wins in Malaysia.<p>"I'm also really excited to become George's team-mate. He came through the team's junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for ... I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track."</p><p>Russell said he was excited to partner with Antonelli.</p><p>"I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I've been his team-mate. I've learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi," he said.</p><p>Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said Russell and Antonelli were the perfect line-up for the team to begin its next chapter.</p><p>"Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport," he said.</p><p>"We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year ... in George, he has an experienced team-mate from (whom) he can learn and hone his craft".</p><p>Russell is eighth in the standings ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Hamilton is sixth.</p>
<p>Mercedes have signed 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton next year, the Formula One team racing team said on Saturday.</p><p>Italian Antonelli, who has won one sprint and one feature race for Prema Racing in Formula Two this year, will join George Russell at Mercedes, with Hamilton switching to Ferrari.</p><p>Antonelli said the move up was a dream come true and thanked the Mercedes team for supporting him and having faith in him.</p><p>"Reaching F1 is a dream I've had since I was a small boy... I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity," he said in a statement.</p>.Motor racing-Pole-to-flag Hamilton wins in Malaysia.<p>"I'm also really excited to become George's team-mate. He came through the team's junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for ... I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track."</p><p>Russell said he was excited to partner with Antonelli.</p><p>"I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I've been his team-mate. I've learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi," he said.</p><p>Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said Russell and Antonelli were the perfect line-up for the team to begin its next chapter.</p><p>"Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport," he said.</p><p>"We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year ... in George, he has an experienced team-mate from (whom) he can learn and hone his craft".</p><p>Russell is eighth in the standings ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Hamilton is sixth.</p>