Monza 2024. Free practice one. Andrea Kimi Antonelli – known simply as Kimi to most – is getting his first taste of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E PERFORMANCE. His first lap puts him at the top of the timesheets, and he’s flying through the second. He scythes through the Lesmo 2 corner at 184km/h, then rockets through the Ascari chicane at 190km/h. 

As he enters the final Parabolica corner, the rear end slides loose, sending Kimi into the tyre wall. His Formula 1 debut ends there – but in less than five minutes, the young Italian has made a bigger impact on his team than the collision he experienced with the Monza barrier.

Throughout free practice one, no driver would best Kimi’s corner speeds. While it was sheer pace that caused his overheated tyres to bite him hard halfway through Parabolica, his tremendous natural speed made it clear he’s more than capable of driving an F1 car to its limit. 

As team principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Toto Wolff explained later: “We would rather have a problem in slowing him down than making him faster. What we have seen in one and a half laps is just astonishing.”

Kimi’s raw natural talent gave the team principal the confidence to promote the 18-year-old into the race seat vacated by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, and partner him with George Russell for the 2025 season and beyond.

“It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” says Kimi.

An exciting season ahead

Despite his swift rise to the world’s most elite motorsport category, every effort has been made to ensure Kimi is ready for the road ahead. He’s the second Mercedes-AMG F1 Grand Prix driver to come through the Junior Program, following in the footsteps of teammate George Russell.

“I’m really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025,” says George. “His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved. He’s a fantastic young talent… I look forward to using the experience I’ve gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1.”

Thanks to the Junior Program, Kimi has already covered more than 9000km at the Red Bull Ring, Barcelona, Imola and Silverstone. By 2025 pre-season testing, he'd completed the equivalent of 30 race distances in Mercedes-AMG vehicles.

Of course, testing is one thing – the pressure of racing against 19 of the world’s finest drivers is quite another. But it’s something the young talent is prepared for.

“Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport,” says Toto. “We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing [in 2024] and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process.”

Kimi is equally level-headed. In fact, the youngster is humbled by the speed of his ascension. “I’m not going to lie, it was really fast,” he says. “Already jumping from Freca to F2 was a really big step. I think I managed pretty well thanks to Mercedes and all the people around me.”

A long association with the brand will no doubt provide a reassuring environment for the teenager during the inevitable highs and lows of his rookie season. “I would say already Mercedes are a second family for me,” Kimi says. 

“I’ve been with them since 2018, so since I was 12 – a very long time. I have a good relationship with Toto – but also with the whole team. It’s just great to be with them. They have always been trying to protect me and help me, especially in the difficult moments. So, I’m glad to be with them and hopefully we can have a good future together.”

Kimi has chosen 12 as his official F1 Grand Prix race number. It’s a fitting choice, since he won the Formula Regional European Championship title in 2023 driving with the number 12 – and ran the same number while testing for the Silver Arrows team in 2024.

One of the most exciting talents to enter F1 in recent memory, Kimi will face plenty of tests in 2025. Happily, he’s already successfully passed his first major one: getting his driver’s license.