Andrea Kimi Antonelli passes driving test with Mercedes. Image: FlashScore.
(The Post News)– Formula One’s rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli has added another achievement to his impressive resume ahead of his much-anticipated debut with Mercedes in the 2025 season. The 18-year-old Italian, who has been hailed as the most exciting young talent since Max Verstappen, announced on Instagram that he has officially passed his driving test.
Antonelli shared the milestone with his followers by posting a cheerful photo of himself in a driving instructor’s car, giving a thumbs-up with the caption, “Mission completed,” paired with two laughter emojis. Reports suggest the test was carried out in San Marino, close to the Imola circuit where Antonelli resides.
While passing a driving test is a rite of passage for many teenagers, it carries little significance for an F1 driver when it comes to competing on the track. Antonelli already holds the FIA Super Licence, the critical qualification required to race in Formula One. The milestone, however, marks a personal victory and a touch of normalcy for the Bologna-born prodigy as he prepares for life in the fast lane.
Antonelli, who will partner George Russell at Mercedes, steps into the seat vacated by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, following Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari. The young Italian will make his debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 16 March, becoming one of the youngest drivers in F1 history. His signing has reignited hope among Italian motorsport fans, who haven’t celebrated a homegrown Grand Prix winner since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006 or a Drivers’ Championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Despite a bumpy start in F1—crashing George Russell’s car in a practice session at last year’s Italian Grand Prix—Antonelli remains poised to make his mark as he embarks on his rookie season with Mercedes. The spotlight is firmly on the teenager as he looks to uphold the legacy of his predecessors and establish himself as a formidable force in Formula One.
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