One of the most exciting developments for Italian fans in the upcoming Formula 1 season is the return of an Italian driver to the grid: Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Tasked with the monumental responsibility of succeeding Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of the Mercedes, Antonelli faces a daunting challenge. However, the Anglo-German team has meticulously prepared the young 2006-born driver, ensuring he gets to know the team inside out and is ready for his official debut during pre-season testing in Bahrain, starting on February 26.
From Spielberg to Abu Dhabi: Antonelli’s first experiences with Mercedes
As detailed by *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, Antonelli’s journey to his debut with Mercedes has been a carefully planned process. It began in April 2024, with his first test at Spielberg. Despite wet conditions, the Bologna native took to the track in the W12 under the emotional gaze of his parents. This initial taste of Formula 1 machinery was followed by another test days later at Imola, where he completed 500 km driving the W13, the car from the 2022 season.
Kimi Antonelli continued his testing program with the same car at another iconic F1 venue, Spa-Francorchamps. His first official outing with the team, however, came during the first free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where an unfortunate crash at Parabolica (now named Alboreto) marred the session. Despite the incident, it did nothing to alter the team’s faith in the young driver. On the same day, Mercedes officially announced Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for the 2025 season.
In the weeks that followed, Antonelli participated in another free practice session in Mexico before the end-of-season tests in Abu Dhabi, where he effectively took over from the seven-time world champion.
Jerez: The final stop before Bahrain testing
More recently, Antonelli completed his latest test at the Jerez circuit, driving the W11—the car with which Lewis Hamilton won his seventh world title. Mercedes chose this older car due to regulatory restrictions. Starting in 2025, teams are allowed a total of 1,000 km of testing with cars from two seasons prior (in this case, the 2023 cars). To preserve this allocation for future use, Mercedes opted to use the W11, classified as a historic car.
This final session capped off a long and detailed preparation program, totaling an impressive 9,000 km. Antonelli’s next milestone will be the Bahrain tests, leading up to his official debut as a Mercedes driver at the season opener in Melbourne.
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