Kimi Antonelli is Mercedes’ new prospect (Image: Getty Images)
, who is set to take the wheel of one of the world’s most formidable racing machines at , has just achieved another milestone – passing his road driving test.
Until recently, the 18-year-old Italian sensation couldn’t legally drive a modest 1ltr hatchback on public roads, despite being trusted by to fill the shoes of none other than in their high-stakes F1 races.
Celebrating this personal victory, Antonelli took to social media to share the news, posting a photo with a thumbs-up and a beaming smile from behind the wheel of a car, humorously captioning it as “mission completed” before his debut season among the elite group of 20 F1 drivers globally.
The buzz around Antonelli has been building over the past year due to his meteoric rise in motorsport. His exceptional performance in junior single-seater categories was so impressive that he bypassed Formula 3 entirely, moving straight into a competitive seat with Prema Racing in Formula 2 last season.
With an eye on the inevitable end of Hamilton’s tenure, has been preparing their exciting prospect for the big leagues of Formula 1.
Hamilton’s surprise move to for the 2025 season became official in February, much earlier than anticipated. , determined to offset this major shift, made a notable public bid to entice towards .
Kimi Antonelli celebrates passing his road driving test (Image: kimi.antonelli/Instagram)
However, with Verstappen’s loyalty firmly attached to , Wolff swiftly shifted gears, bringing Antonelli on board. The teenager now not only boasts legal road driver status but is also set to accompany in this season’s lineup.
Previously such a late confirmation could have posed significant issues – FIA regulations mandated all competing drivers in Formula 1 to hold a legitimate road licence. Nevertheless, this requisite was dropped during the 2024 season, which, alongside another adjustment to the rules, has reopened opportunities for racers under 18 years old.
Despite these changes, Verstappen remains a unique figure in F1’s annals – having debuted with Toro Rosso at the tender age of 17 years and 166 days.
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After Verstappen’s ascendancy, the rules were initially revised to ensure only individuals aged 18 and above could earn a superlicence. Now, reverting somewhat, the latest rule modification permits the FIA to grant special dispensation for those over 17 who have “recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition”.
Contrary to initial assumptions that had pushed for an early grid entry for Antonelli, the Silver Arrows have refuted such claims. Interestingly, it’s who could reap the benefits this year as their rising British star Arvid Lindblad, who turns 18 in August, who may get the opportunity to participate in practice sessions or even secure a race seat ahead of schedule.
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