Andrea Kimi Antonelli will not only bring an Italian back to racing in Formula 1 but will do so with one of the sport’s top four teams: Mercedes.
The 18-year-old has already had opportunities to familiarize himself with Formula 1 machinery through private test sessions with ground-effect cars developed at Brackley. However, the few kilometers he completed in Free Practice 1 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza remain fresh in everyone’s minds.
At the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Andrea started strong from the very first minutes of the session, fully aware of the need to make the most of the opportunity Mercedes had given him. The opening laps were electrifying, with steady improvements that unfortunately culminated in a mistake at the Parabolica as he pushed to lower his lap times further. It was an error born of enthusiasm and inexperience, providing Mercedes with two clear takeaways: patience will be required for such a young driver, but his talent is undeniable.
“Andrea did an incredible lap at Monza. Unfortunately, it ended at the Parabolica. But if you look at the sectors and how he was driving, it was incredible,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to the Austrian broadcaster ORF.
“We always ask ourselves whether we’re making the right decisions. Taking on Antonelli is certainly a bold decision and, for us, an experiment as well.”
“Now, it’s about managing expectations for next year — his, ours, and the fans’. And giving him the space to grow.”
According to Toto Wolff, 2025 will be a year of highs and lows for Kimi Antonelli, marked by mistakes and impressive performances. Patience and extra support will be crucial, as Mercedes aims to have him in good shape and more consistent by 2026, coinciding with the introduction of the new technical regulations for cars and engines.
“There will be moments when we’ll be tearing our hair out over mistakes, and then there will be flashes of brilliance when he shows his talent. But the most important thing is for him to develop over the next year. 2026 will be a very important year for us as an engine manufacturer, and we want him to be ready by then.”
“Anyone who has worked with Andrea in the junior categories has described his talent as exceptional. Mercedes made a mistake at Monza by exposing him to pressure in Italy and then announcing that he would drive for us in 2025,” Toto Wolff concluded.
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