Netflix reveals the untold story behind Mercedes F1’s bold gamble on Kimi Antonelli as he prepares to take over Hamilton’s legacy.
A brand-new documentary capturing the decision to promote Kimi Antonelli to Mercedes F1 will premiere on Netflix right after the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.
Titled The Seat, the 45-minute film will debut on May 5 and offers exclusive access to the private conversations that shaped Mercedes’ choice to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari next season. Produced in collaboration with WhatsApp, a key Mercedes partner, the documentary features direct calls and exchanges between team principal Toto Wolff and Antonelli as they prepare the young Italian for his official promotion to the race team for 2025.
“Choosing Kimi as our race driver for 2025 was a major decision, as ‘The Seat’ shows,” said Wolff. “WhatsApp played a crucial role behind the scenes. It helped us keep the process smooth and confidential, allowing the team to stay focused on Kimi’s development, monitor his progress and ultimately finalize our choice.”
“We are excited to give Formula 1 fans around the world a rare look into how we reached this pivotal moment in our team’s history.”
Mercedes describes Antonelli’s promotion as a “one-of-a-kind driver change” in the team’s and F1’s history. The trailer teases the challenges of elevating a rookie with limited experience straight from Formula 2 into one of the most prestigious seats in motorsport.
“Becoming a Formula 1 driver with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is a dream come true,” Antonelli said. “Throughout the whole journey, Toto, the team and I stayed in constant touch on WhatsApp, and ‘The Seat’ captures that story from start to finish.”
“I can’t wait for the world to join us on this journey when the documentary streams on Netflix.”
While WhatsApp plays a major role in the storytelling — it is the second project born from their partnership after last year’s Push, Push featuring Hamilton — The Seat marks the first time a film from this collaboration will debut directly on Netflix.
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Inside Mercedes F1 The Secret Netflix Bet on Kimi Antonelli Inside Mercedes F1 The Secret Netflix Bet on Kimi Antonelli