Kimi Antonelli with a special livery for Mercedes test in Jerez – VIDEO. Andrea Kimi Antonelli took to the track with a special livery on a Mercedes W11.

The young talent from Bologna is gearing up for his debut in Formula 1, set to begin in Melbourne, where he will compete in his first full season as a main driver. With significant pressure on his shoulders, Toto Wolff has expressed his support, emphasizing that Kimi Antonelli’s growth will be gradual and any mistakes along the way are entirely normal.

As the season draws closer, drivers are gradually resuming their work behind the wheel. Anticipation builds for Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in Maranello, where he will soon complete a session at Fiorano. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s former team, Mercedes, has already started its preparations, conducting private tests in Jerez. Yesterday, Andrea Kimi Antonelli had his first taste of the track.

The Bologna-born driver, who participated in Free Practice sessions during the 2024 season, will take on the role of main driver at Brackley. His task is twofold: to fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton’s departure and to challenge – and potentially surpass – George Russell. The British driver is in the final year of his contract, with rumors suggesting Mercedes might be interested in Max Verstappen, possibly as early as 2026.

Antonelli at Jerez with a Special-Livery Mercedes W11
To best prepare for the upcoming season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli began his training in a Mercedes W11, one of Stuttgart’s most successful cars. It was the vehicle in which Lewis Hamilton secured his seventh Formula 1 title in 2020. However, the car was notably missing the traditional silver livery of Brackley, which had turned black that year.

Instead, the car featured a green and white camouflage design, a choice often used by teams during pre-season testing. The decision to use a four-year-old car stems from the intent to preserve TPCs (Testing Previous Cars) for more critical sessions. The Mercedes W11 qualifies as a “historic” car, no longer aligned with current regulations.

Kimi Antonelli is driving the W11 today at the Jerez circuit. pic.twitter.com/dc4kcr0FeT

— Mercedes Hub (@MercedesF1_Hub) January 15, 2025