Kimi Antonelli is ready to rise to the challenge of F1 and has set high expectations for his debut season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old F2 driver quickly became one of the most talked about drivers in the 2024 season when he was named as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Monza.
The young Italian had moved straight from FRECA to F2 for 2024, with the full support of Mercedes behind him. A jump which hadn’t been seen since the likes of Max Verstappen who moved straight from F3 to F1. This bold decision from Mercedes set many eyes, and even more pressure on Antonelli.
However, he rose to the challenge. His F2 campaign hasn’t been a dominant display, currently finding himself sixth in the standings. But he’s had standout performances like his win in Silverstone, where he built a gap of 8.5 seconds despite the rain and safety cars. Also at the Belgian Grand Prix, his daring overtake into Eau Rouge once again in the treacherous wet weather. Moments like these proved to Mercedes that their bold move was paying off.
Kimi Antonelli has shown he doesn’t lack the raw speed needed in F1, and now he is ready to put himself to the test in his debut season.
Rookies and expectations
There is contention over the subject of rookies, and how much is enough time to adjust to the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of Formula One. But with the likes of Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Ollie Bearman all stepping in with little to no notice and still managing to impress teams, score points, and outperform teammates. The pressure has increased for incoming rookies.
But Kimi Antonelli remains confident for 2025 despite this building pressure. The Italian is not shying away from the challenges of not only racing in F1 but racing for Mercedes. Talking about his FP1 session in Monza he told Gazzetta:
“Before going out at the Parabolica I had been going strong. I have a good relationship with George, he didn’t give me great advice, but for now everything is fine. But next year, I want to beat him.”
Although, Antonelli has recognised he still has a lot to learn ahead of the 2025 season. Even down to procedural issues, and the buttons on the steering wheel.
He mused, “I’ll have to learn the procedures well, if you touch the wrong button it’s a mess. Soon I’ll get a seat with a steering wheel at home to learn the starts and the various procedures. Also because you have to know where each button is without having to look.”
Mercedes’s decision to sign Antonelli
Although impressive moments in his F2 campaign helped Mercedes see his potential, he also took part in Testing of Previous Cars (TPC), a programme F1 set up allowing teams to test 2020-22 cars as a way to test drivers or gather more data outside of pre or post-season testing. Antonelli took part in multiple TPC sessions and he notes these as being the reason Mercedes decided to sign him.
He said, “The great speed that I had right from the start. I struggled at the beginning with the race pace. But after a test at Spa, they saw a clear step forward and were convinced. And two days later the call came that they were taking me for 2025.”
Antonelli will be in the spotlight more than other rookies in 2025, driving a Mercedes as opposed to a Haas or Alpine. Being at the front of the grid means he’ll be racing against the likes of Verstappen, Hamilton and Leclerc. However, it also gives him a unique opportunity to prove himself in a possibly race-winning car.
Featured Image Credit: Jiri Krenek, Mercedes