Kimi Antonelli produced a stunning drive on his F1 debut to finish one place away from the podium at the Australian Grand Prix.
The Italian has serious hype around him after an incredible junior career. Toto Wolff has trusted Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Racing for the Silver Arrows brings pressure to deliver results and the team have been working hard to prepare the 18-year-old for his rookie season. Antonelli is one of six new full-time drivers in 2025 – and he was the only one of them to finish the Australian Grand Prix in the points.
Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto crashed out while Oliver Bearman endured a miserable weekend and finished 14th. Starting P16, Antonelli climbed through the field in the tricky conditions to finish a ‘mega’ P4.
The Italian was handed a five-second penalty after the race for an unsafe release, which Mercedes later overturned. After his fantastic F1 debut, fans think they have found the reincarnation of a legend of the sport.
Mercedes fans think Kimi Antonelli is Kimi Raikkonen ‘reincarnated’ after Australian Grand Prix
In a video shared on the official Mercedes Instagram account, Antonelli gave his assessment immediately after the race. He expressed joy about his ‘amazing’ debut.
He said: “Bwoah! Man, all the worst possible conditions we found in the first race.
“But no, [it] was amazing. Amazing job by the team. Strategy was mega! You know, [it] was good, was good.”
Eagle-eyed fans noticed Antonelli’s opening expression is one that 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen is well-known for in interviews. They flooded the comments section to make the comparison.
READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats
One fan said: “BWOAH WELCOME BACK KIMI,” while another added: “Close enough, welcome back Iceman.”
One user said: “Bwoah. Kimi’s name really suits him.” Another was loving seeing the famous expression brought back by Antonelli: “Bwoah that’s KIMI we want.”
Another fan saw the Italian as the reincarnation of Raikkonen: “BWOAH ICEMAN REINCARNATED.”
Finally, one fan lauded the Mercedes talent’s incredible performance: “Bwoah! Kimi remastered! Driver of the day hands down! Such confidence under harsh conditions. That was great driving”
Kimi Antonelli’s performance in Melbourne proves he is a generational talent
At just 18 years old, to go from P16 to fourth in his first F1 race is an incredible feat by Antonelli. It has certainly confirmed that the Italian is a rising star capable of great things.
Marc Priestley says Mercedes think Antonelli is a generational talent – his display in Melbourne proves that in abundance. The teenager will take much confidence from that race into the next in Shanghai.
Mercedes capped off an impressive weekend for the team with George Russell clinching the final podium spot behind winner Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
GPS data had Mercedes second after pre-season testing in Bahrain. Finishing third and fourth in Melbourne will spur them in good stead to challenge their rivals for wins later in the season.
Leave feedback about this