Andrea Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of making his Formula 1 debut as an official driver for the Mercedes team. The Italian has been chosen by Toto Wolff to replace Lewis Hamilton and partner George Russell starting from the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia at Albert Park.
At just 18 years old, Kimi is ready to achieve a record that has remained unbroken since 1954, held by Karl Kling. He will become the first rookie to debut with Mercedes from the very first race of the season.
In 1954, the German team, with its iconic W196 streamliners, arrived late at the start of the championship but made its debut with three cars driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, Hans Hermann, and Karl Kling. Fangio was already a world champion, having won the 1951 title with Alfa Romeo, while Hermann had previously participated in the 1953 German GP with a private car. Kling, on the other hand, was a true rookie. He started and finished second behind Fangio, crossing the finish line just 0.1 seconds behind the great Argentine in a Mercedes one-two finish.
Kimi Antonelli will “inherit” this record, making it his own even before proving his worth on track, as he has consistently done in recent years in the junior categories.
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