Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli passes his driving test weeks before making his Formula 1 debut
- Mercedes F1 driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, passed his driving test
- He turned 18 in August and will debut at the Australian Grand Prix
- It’s sparked a conversation about the age of drivers
Published on Jan 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Italian Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has just passed his driving test at the age of 18, despite already securing a drive for the next racing season.
The youngster will replace Lewis Hamilton and partner George Russell for the upcoming 2025 season.
He was able to throw away his L plates just six weeks before his Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
He’s in for a lot more pressure than parallel parking, that’s for sure.
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Mercedes congratulates him on his driving test
Antonelli certainly wasn’t waiting around and, having turned 18 in August 2024, he passed his driving test.
That’s the minimum age to drive on roads in Italy.
Mercedes celebrated the milestone on social media yesterday.
“Mission completed,” the post said.
It was accompanied by ticks for both his driving licence and the so-called super-licence he requires to race.
It also features a photograph of a smiling Antonelli giving a thumbs up in a driving school car.
Everything we know about F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli
The son of famous Italian racing driver and motorsport executive, Marco Antonelli, Kimi is not as green as his recent achievement suggests, however.
While driving students are known to make some dangerous mistakes, he has already completed thousands of miles in Formula 1 testing ahead of his debut which he didn’t need a license for.
Bizarre, considering some supercars like the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra require proof of a driver’s license ahead of purchase.
Following Hamilton’s success at the team before moving to Ferrari, Antonelli has some big shoes to fill.
He’ll get up and running by taking part in pre-season testing in Bahrain from 26-28 February.
As if that weren’t enough for a newbie driver, his first race will be the Australian Grand Prix in March 2025.
His achievement has divided opinion on drivers getting younger and younger, however.
“Getting a super license before a regular license should be illegal, it encourages reckless driving and endangers other drivers,” one comment said.
“At least now we know he knows his way around a car!” a second said.
If he can pilot a Formula 1 car, it’s likely that he can navigate the roads of most countries with ease.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
