London24NEWS

Lewis Hamilton’s teenage Mercedes alternative Kimi Antonelli passes his driving take a look at simply WEEKS earlier than Formula One debut

  • Kimi Antonelli is only 18 and will make his Formula One debut in March this year
  • At least he has a driving licence, which Verstappen didn’t have when he started 

Lewis Hamilton‘s replacement at Mercedes has proven he at least has some competence behind the wheel – by passing his driving test. 

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, is officially road-ready after completing the rite of passage in Italy. 

He now looks ahead to March, when he faces the daunting test of stepping into the helmet of seven-time Drivers’ World Champion Hamilton with the Silver Arrows.

Should he win any of his first three races in Australia, China, or Japan, he will break Max Verstappen‘s record and become the youngest-ever F1 Grand Prix winner.

And in some sense he is further developed than Verstappen was when he debuted aged 17 years and 166 days in 2015, because the Dutchman did not have a regular driving licence then. 

‘Mission completed,’ Antonelli posted on Instagram with two laughing face emojis – perhaps to the relief of Toto Wolff

Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes, has passed his driving test aged 18

Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes, has passed his driving test aged 18

The Italian will partner George Russell for the forthcoming season, making his debut in March

The Italian will partner George Russell for the forthcoming season, making his debut in March

Hamilton has departed for Ferrari after winning seven Drivers' Championships with Mercedes

Hamilton has departed for Ferrari after winning seven Drivers’ Championships with Mercedes

Antonelli comes with a good reputation from the lower formulas, having finished sixth in F1 last season, picking up two race wins in the latter half of the campaign. 

He will partner George Russell as Mercedes look to build on a disappointing season which saw them come a distant fourth in the Constructors’ Championship – their lowest finish since 2012. 

Antonelli had his F1 first practice session back in August at the Italian Grand Prix, but was involved in a 160mph crash.

The Italian lost control at the Parabolica, careered across the gravel before hitting the tyre wall sideways — an impact measured at 45G.

He was taken to the medical centre for checks but was fit enough to take part in the Formula Two session later in the afternoon. 

Team principal Toto Wolff grimaced in the Mercedes garage as Antonelli spun off but backed the kid he has supported through the team’s junior programme, saying: ‘He’s a rookie, he’s very young, and we are prepared to invest in his future.

‘These moments will happen. They will continue to happen next year. But there will also be a lot of highlights.

‘What we saw today is we have a problem slowing him down rather than making him faster, because what we’ve seen from one-and-a-half laps is just astonishing.’

Wolff has been true to his word about investing in Antonelli, with the exciting prospect now given his chance to prove he belongs at the highest level.