Lewis Hamilton REPLACED by Mercedes for Mexico GP session by 18-year-old star tipped to succeed Ferrari-bound legend

LEWIS HAMILTON will miss the first practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix.

Hamilton, 39, will be replaced by his 2025 Mercedes stand-in Kimi Antonelli for the first session.

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Lewis Hamilton has been replaced for the first practice session of the Mexico GP[/caption]

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Kimi Antonelli will come in for the seven-time world champion[/caption]

Hamilton struggled last time out, failing to finish the United States GP after crashing out into the gravel on just his third lap.

While he also qualified as the second-slowest driver in the field.

And he will now be replaced by 18-year-old Antonelli, who has been tipped to succeed the seven-time world champion at the end of the season.

Hamilton is bringing his time with the Silver Arrows to a close at the end of the season.

The Brit will be switching to Ferrari from the 2025 season onwards.

Antonelli, who heralds from Italy, made a hash of his first time out on the F1 stage last month.

The rising star crashed out on his fifth lap in qualification in Monza.

However, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described his out-of-box pace as “astonishing” up until that point.

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Hamilton crashed out of the US GP on the third lap[/caption]

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Antonelli crashed during qualification on his F1 debut last month[/caption]

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Formula One rules state that teams must give two practice opportunities to rookie drivers each season – with one coming in each car.

Chief Wolff certainly hasn’t piled any blame at Hamilton for his early crash in Austin, claiming that the car was to blame for the disastrous showing.

Speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath, he said: “100% car. I think he was not even pushing at that stage.

“We’ve seen it [in qualifying] with George [Russell], and that was maybe over pushing it, but still abruptly losing it, putting it in the wall.

“Today, such a situation, there was wind and there was a little bit of dirty air.

“We definitely have an issue. I don’t know whether it was yesterday the same as today. Definitely Lewis Hamilton doesn’t lose the car like this.”

Hamilton currently sits sixth in the drivers standings after two race wins and four podium finishes this year.

While Mercedes find themselves fourth in the constructors standings.

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Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has claimed Hamilton was not to blame for his US GP crash[/caption]