Kimi Antonelli is just weeks away from making his highly anticipated Formula 1 debut with Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix.
The 18-year-old takes Lewis Hamilton’s spot in the team and must learn as much as he can about the Mercedes organisation before the 2026 F1 regulations.
It makes 2025 a vital year for Antonelli, not just in terms of results but with the promise he must show to warrant being a viable option in the long term for a historic brand.
Team boss Toto Wolff has placed a lot of faith in him, but it’s a low-risk endeavour giving him one year to showcase his talents before things become serious in 2026.
Rival bosses Christian Horner and Zak Brown ‘fully expect’ Antonelli to win in 2025 and see him as a serious threat.
If the Silver Arrows have made a step forward with the W16, they could be contenders in both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships again.
Kimi Antonelli delivers two-word verdict on Mercedes’ 2025 F1 car
Antonelli wants to replicate Hamilton’s incredible rookie F1 season development and is in the best position to do so than any other driver has enjoyed over the last nearly 20 years.
The seven-time champion claimed a podium in each of his first nine races, as he announced himself by exploding onto the scene.
Gary Anderson says Mercedes have ‘gone to town’ on their 2025 car, and have developed their cooling on the W16. It will help them at the hotter events.
READ MORE: James Allison outlines the ‘primary focus’ of Mercedes 2025 challenger ahead of F1 testing
Speaking in a post on his Instagram, Antonelli shared his views on the new car after it was officially unveiled this week.
“Tanta roba,” he said, which is an Italian slang phrase for being ‘excited’.
Kimi Antonelli reveals he cannot repeat one thing during his rookie F1 season with Mercedes
Although his Formula 2 campaign was impressive relative to fellow Formula 1 rookie Oliver Bearman last year, Antonelli still made his fair share of mistakes.
He made one under the biggest microscope of them all, after putting Hamilton’s Mercedes in the wall during a practice session at his home Italian Grand Prix.
READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli’s top speed during private Mercedes test topped one-time F1 race winner’s best qualifying pace
Antonelli has admitted he cannot repeat mistakes in his rookie F1 season and is aware that he must learn and absorb everything thrown his way.
He’s only on a one-year deal, so he has a point to prove to his bosses or he could find himself off the grid after 2025.
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