Andrea Kimi Antonelli will become the third-youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race when the Mercedes rookie makes his debut in the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
The Silver Arrows have given the Italian the keys to an F1 car at just 18 years old after having to replace Lewis Hamilton. The 40-year-old’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari saw Toto Wolff put the Brackley crew’s faith in one of their own and promote their academy prospect.
Mercedes signed Antonelli to their driver academy while he was still racing go-karts in 2019. His results since putting pen to paper convinced the Silver Arrows the Bologna boy has what it takes to race in F1, and he now steps into the cockpit a seven-time champion has vacated.
‘Rookie weekends’ are ‘inevitable’ for Andrea Kimi Antonelli and could hurt Mercedes
But while Mercedes believe in Antonelli, McLaren CEO Zak Brown feels the Silver Arrows ace might hurt his team as ‘rookie weekends’ are ‘inevitable. The same fate also awaits new Red Bull driver Liam Lawson after the 23-year-old replaced Sergio Perez after just 11 Grands Prix.
Brown feels the lack of experience Antonelli and Lawson have in the pinnacle of motorsport could prove harmful to Mercedes and Red Bull’s bids to dethrone McLaren in the Formula 1 constructors’ championship. The Woking crew got their first teams’ title since 1998 in 2024.
READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats
| POS | DRIVER | AGE AT DEBUT | TEAM | RACE |
| 10 | Esteban Tuero | 19 years, 10 months, 14 days | Minardi | 1998 Australian Grand Prix |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | 19 years, 7 months, 3 days | Minardi | 2001 Australian Grand Prix |
| 8 | Ricardo Rodriguez | 19 years, 6 months, 27 days | Ferrari | 1961 Italian Grand Prix |
| 7 | Mike Thackwell | 19 years, 5 months, 29 days | Tyrrell | 1980 Canadian Grand Prix |
| 6 | Lando Norris | 19 years, 4 months, 4 days | McLaren | 2019 Australian Grand Prix |
| 5 | Jaime Alguersuari | 19 years, 4 months, 3 days | Toro Rosso | 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix |
| 4 | Oliver Bearman | 18 years, 10 months, 1 day | Ferrari | 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix |
| 3 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli* | 18 years, six months, 19 days old | Mercedes | 2025 Australian Grand Prix |
| 2 | Lance Stroll | 18 years, 4 months, 25 days | Williams | 2017 Australian Grand Prix |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | 17 years, 5 months, 13 days | Toro Rosso | 2015 Australian Grand Prix |
Not having two strong racers cost Red Bull as Verstappen won the drivers’ title on 437 points – 63 more than McLaren’s Lando Norris – but Perez only scored 152. So, Red Bull terminated Perez’s contract and promoted Lawson, but Brown urges caution for the Kiwi and Antonelli.
“Obviously, Kimi is a rookie and Liam is, let’s say, inexperienced rather than a rookie,” Brown noted, via quotes by Formule1. “I think from a constructors’ point of view it will probably be more challenging to do 24 races. They will inevitably have a couple of rookie weekends.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli wants to replicate Lewis Hamilton after replacing him at Mercedes
Antonelli will strive to avoid ‘rookie weekends’ at every opportunity to help Mercedes climb back up the constructors’ standings. But, if the Silver Arrows cannot move closer to the likes of McLaren, there are fears in the paddock that Antonelli will lose his potential at Mercedes.
The Bologna boy is a very promising young driver after doing the Italian and ADAC F4 double in 2022 plus a Formula Regional Europe and Middle East double in 2023. Yet F1 is a different animal, so Antonelli wants to replicate Hamilton’s rookie season and ‘evolve’ all season long.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull Racing F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Red Bull will also hope Lawson is able to evolve throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season after moving up to their main team. But unlike Antonelli, who will get the chance to rival George Russell, Red Bull are clear that Lawson is Verstappen’s No2 and will help the Dutchman out.
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