Back in 2014, a pint-sized Andrea Antonelli made his covert debut in the Formula 1 paddock during the German Grand Prix—no official invite in hand. The story, as told by “Kimi” himself in a team interview, is as whimsical as it is audacious. “My dad snuck me in by tucking me into a tire stack and wheeling me around on a trolley,” he chuckled. As Marco, Andrea’s father, was competing in a support race, he resorted to such ingenuity. “With an umbrella plopped on top to hide me even better, I managed to make it into the pit lane. A friend of my dad’s secured a pass for me, and I got an hour’s exploration of the setup. It was incredible fun.”
Today, Andrea Antonelli stands on the verge of living his dream, set to race for Mercedes as the youngest driver of the season at just 18—only weeks after acing his driving test. A journey that six years in Mercedes’ young driver program and an impressive racing record crown. After clinching two Formula 4 titles in his debut season of 2022, and following up with two Formula Regional crowns in 2023, Antonelli boldly skipped Formula 3. He dived straight into Formula 2 in 2024, where his talents shone with two victories and a sixth place overall finish.
René Rosin, who managed Antonelli at Prema Racing for three years, recognized his rapid ascent immediately. “He was on fire from the get-go,” he shared in a February interview. “Even with normal rookie slip-ups, he tackled his first full F4 season like a prodigy.”
Not one to shy away from people, Kimi prefers engaging, holding professionalism and ambition at the core of his being. “He’s all about winning and pushing limits,” Rosin noted. “Even when things don’t go as planned, he turns his disappointment into growth—it’s an admirable mindset.” A memorable race at Zandvoort in 2023, during which Antonelli outpaced everyone else by nearly a second in wet conditions, still stood fresh in Rosin’s memory.
Mercedes, anticipating a gap with Lewis Hamilton’s planned exit to Ferrari in 2025, saw Antonelli as the heir apparent. Antonelli absorbed every opportunity, from extensive testing regimens to becoming an integral part of the team at various Grands Prix.
At the F1 launch event in February, Antonelli reflected on his time at the Mercedes factory. “There’s been so much learning, all while building rapport with the team,” he said. “The aim is to head to Melbourne without surprises, so I’m keeping focused on learning every single day.” March 16 will mark his official debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
His entry comes with the looming legacy of Hamilton’s six titles and 84 victories—the most successful driver-team pairing in F1 history. Yet, Antonelli is grounded. “I don’t see myself as his replacement,” he commented about stepping into Hamilton’s shoes. “I am simply the next Mercedes driver, ready to craft my own legacy.”
Mercedes, once dominant, has faced recent challenges, highlighted by a mere five wins and a fourth-place finish last year—its least successful since 2012. 2025 is seen by many as a year of transition, with new rules around the corner in 2026. For Antonelli, this eases the pressure, opening room for a fresh start: “I’m stepping in without lofty expectations. Instead, I’m focusing on progress, starting on stable ground, and remaining consistent.”
Looking to his teammate, George Russell, now embarking on his fourth year with Mercedes, there’s mutual respect. “At Kimi’s age, you possess all the speed you need; experience shapes the rest,” Russell mused at the Mercedes event. “He’ll definitely keep me sharp.”
Rosin, a mentor to multiple F1 talents including Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, has confidence in Antonelli’s capabilities. “Everyone in that circle deserves their seat in F1, and Andrea is no exception,” Rosin affirmed. “He belongs to the elite, justified by merit.”
