Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable gesture towards Kimi Antonelli before leaving Mercedes has resurfaced following the Italian driver’s historic Formula 1 championship triumph. The seven-time world champion reportedly left a handwritten message on Antonelli’s Mercedes room wall before departing the team, offering advice, encouragement and a heartfelt welcome to the young driver who would eventually succeed him. Now, following Antonelli’s extraordinary achievement at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, the story has taken on an even more emotional significance.
LEWIS HAMILTON’S HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE TO KIMI ANTONELLI
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marked the end of one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history. After spending 12 seasons with the Silver Arrows and winning six Drivers’ Championships with the team, the British superstar moved to Ferrari, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy.
However, before leaving Mercedes, Hamilton reportedly took the time to write a personal message for Antonelli, who was preparing to occupy his former room in the team’s European motorhome.
Stephen Lord, one of Hamilton’s closest colleagues, revealed the touching gesture while speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
“I walked into the room and on the wall there’s quite a long, handwritten note,” Lord explained.
“It was a note to Kimi and it was basically welcoming him to his new room, and it was wishing him the best of luck, saying some really nice things about the team and how, ‘if you care for them, they’ll care for you because they’re a great team.'”
The gesture immediately impressed Lord, who described the message as particularly special.
Rather than simply leaving behind a racing room, Hamilton had made an effort to welcome the young Italian into an environment that had played such a significant role in his own career.
MERCEDES MADE SURE HAMILTON’S MESSAGE WOULD LAST FOREVER
Hamilton’s handwritten note was reportedly so meaningful that Mercedes decided to preserve it permanently.
According to Lord, the team had the message covered with glass so it could remain on the wall for future visits.
The decision highlights the significance of Hamilton’s final moments with Mercedes and the emotional connection he maintained with the organisation even as he prepared for a new chapter at Ferrari.
Lord also recalled discovering another humorous message left by Hamilton in the bathroom.
“I walked into the bathroom and next to the toilet, above the toilet roll holder, was ‘Lewis was here’ with a big smiley face and I thought, ‘okay, I like that.’ But the note to Kimi was pretty special.”
The contrast between Hamilton’s playful farewell and his heartfelt message to Antonelli revealed different sides of the seven-time world champion.
While the smiley-face message offered a humorous reminder of his presence, the handwritten letter represented something far more meaningful: an experienced champion passing encouragement to the next generation.
KIMI ANTONELLI ADMITS HAMILTON’S MESSAGE MEANT EVERYTHING TO HIM
Antonelli later opened up about the impact Hamilton’s message had on him during his first Formula 1 season.
The Italian admitted that receiving such a personal gesture from one of the sport’s greatest drivers was deeply emotional.
“It says a lot on how Lewis is as a person. I think I could see a lot of the human side of Lewis, not only the driver,” Antonelli explained.
“Reading the message, it fulfilled my heart to receive such a message from such a figure in the sport. He has done so much and he’s still right there, giving his best, and he’s one of the best in history.”
The young Mercedes driver also revealed that Hamilton’s note contained advice that he could use as motivation throughout his career.
“To receive such a message, it’s amazing, and of course also in the message it contained also some advice, and I use it as a motivation to go out there and do my best, because it doesn’t happen every day.”
Antonelli confirmed that he intended to keep the message on his wall, explaining that seeing it whenever he entered the room served as a reminder of the encouragement he had received.
HAMILTON’S MESSAGE BECOMES EVEN MORE SPECIAL AFTER ANTONELLI’S CHAMPIONSHIP
What makes Hamilton’s gesture particularly remarkable is how Antonelli’s career has developed since receiving the message.
The Italian arrived at Mercedes in 2025 as one of Formula 1’s most exciting young prospects, replacing Hamilton alongside George Russell.
At the time, the teenager faced enormous expectations. Replacing a seven-time world champion at one of the sport’s biggest teams was an intimidating challenge, especially considering the pressure associated with Mercedes’ championship-winning history.
However, Antonelli gradually established himself as a formidable competitor before delivering a sensational 2026 campaign.
His third-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix secured the Drivers’ Championship, making him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at 20 years and 68 days.
Antonelli surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s previous record of 23 years and 134 days, completing a remarkable journey from promising rookie to championship-winning driver.
The achievement has also transformed Hamilton’s handwritten message into an unforgettable part of Antonelli’s Mercedes story.
LEWIS HAMILTON CONGRATULATES ANTONELLI AFTER HIS HISTORIC F1 TITLE
Hamilton’s admiration for Antonelli has remained evident even after the two drivers became competitors on the Formula 1 grid.
Following Antonelli’s championship victory in Mexico, Hamilton publicly congratulated the Italian and celebrated his incredible achievement.
“Let me start with a huge congratulations to the new champion, @kimi.antonelli. To have seen your journey so closely and to be there celebrating with you was a highlight of my year,” Hamilton wrote.
“So well deserved and a record that will stand for a long time. It was great to see your team at Mercedes celebrating with you. Enjoy this moment, keep your family close, keep your passion and your energy.”
The message demonstrated that Hamilton’s support for Antonelli extends beyond their shared Mercedes history.
Despite competing against the young champion, the British driver has continued to show genuine appreciation for his achievements and development.
A SPECIAL MERCEDES MOMENT THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
Hamilton’s handwritten message represents one of the most touching moments in Mercedes’ recent Formula 1 history.
It was not a championship trophy, a podium celebration or a dramatic racing moment, but a simple gesture from an established champion towards a young driver preparing to take his place.
Antonelli’s subsequent championship victory has given that gesture a remarkable significance.
The Italian now occupies a position Hamilton knows better than almost anyone: a world champion representing Mercedes at the highest level of Formula 1.
And somewhere inside the team’s motorhome, Hamilton’s handwritten message reportedly remains preserved on the wall, serving as a permanent reminder of the encouragement he offered the driver who would eventually make history.
For Antonelli, the letter was more than a welcome message. It was a personal reminder that even one of Formula 1’s greatest champions believed in him before the world witnessed his extraordinary achievement.
