He will be one of the most closely watched drivers in 2025. After the three-day test in Bahrain, Kimi Antonelli is preparing for his debut in Formula 1 with Mercedes, where he will have the challenging task of filling the gap left by Lewis Hamilton. It won’t be an easy job, but the Italian driver has already shown he is capable of performing at the level of a top team like Brackley’s.
During the test sessions that officially opened the season, Kimi Antonelli showcased his talent with consistently strong race simulations. The feedback from Mercedes has been positive, and the feeling in the paddock is that everyone acknowledges the speed that has long been associated with the former Prema driver.
Things could have been different
Kimi Antonelli’s future could have taken a very different path. He confirmed this himself in a special feature by Sky ahead of his debut in Australia at the Albert Park circuit. “At first, my parents didn’t want me to race. Especially my father, because having experienced it himself, he knew that motorsport can bring huge disappointments,” said the Italian driver.
“In an instant, you can go from one extreme to the other. My parents wanted to protect me because they feared I wouldn’t be able to handle disappointment. But then they saw how passionate I was—at home, I was always rewatching past races or playing with toy cars—so they let me follow my passion,” Kimi Antonelli added.
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