It’s been exactly one year since Kimi Antonelli first tested a Formula 1 car, and now he’s one of the twenty drivers lining up for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. A snowy test, hard to forget, but also symbolic of a career that began with determination. “It feels like yesterday,” he says, “but I’ve learned so much. I feel much more mature, both as a driver and as a person.”
Kimi Antonelli then frankly analyzes his race in Bahrain: between sub-optimal strategies and aggressive choices on track, the result slipped away. “I didn’t save the tyres when I should have, I pushed too hard to recover. In the end, it snowballed,” he admits. The safety car made everything more complicated, but the Mercedes rookie takes responsibility with clarity.
Cooling vests as air conditioning: Kimi Antonelli’s test in Bahrain
He also reflects further on Bahrain. In hotter races, physical endurance becomes crucial. Kimi Antonelli explains that he tested the cooling vest only in FP1 at Sakhir, but didn’t use it in the race due to uncertainty about its lasting power. “I’ll probably use it in upcoming races, now that I have more data,” he explains. These cooling vests essentially create a form of air conditioning inside the cockpit, directly on the driver’s body.
Within the Mercedes team, Antonelli can count on an experienced figure who guides him behind the scenes. This support proved crucial, especially in Suzuka, where he managed to completely turn his weekend around after difficult practice sessions. “I’m open to any advice. I have so much to learn, and I’m lucky to have such a valuable mentor beside me.”
The tight 2025 F1 calendar presents another challenge: little time to reflect, so much to learn. “It’s great to have another chance right after a disappointing race,” says Kimi, “but sometimes it’s hard to take everything in so quickly.” Nonetheless, the young Mercedes talent already seems to have the maturity to approach each weekend as a new opportunity to grow.
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