With just a few days remaining for the 2025 season opener in Australia, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is awaiting his much-anticipated F1 debut. The 18-year-old has been touted as one of the most talented young drivers in the sport today.
He would need all that talent and more once he hits the track. After all, his debut is no ordinary entry. He is joining the Formula One grid driving for one of the biggest teams, replacing Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion.
Naturally, the expectations surrounding his rookie season are immense. However, he has had only one season’s worth of seasoning in F2. And that inexperience could become a handicap.
Then again, the #12 driver has certain other hidden abilities that could come in handy on the F1 grid. In a recent video doing the rounds of X, Antonelli can be seen recalling lap times from his F2 season accurately.
A PREMA engineer reveals in the video: “Kimi remembers his lap times from all the sessions that he ever did in his life.”
Kimi Antonelli remembers every lap time he’s registered at a track ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/hWVjWA1bcc
— Autosport (@autosport) March 9, 2025
The Italian racing prodigy then goes on to recall lap times from the previous rounds of the F2 championship he participated in — leaving even Ollie Bearman impressed.
This hidden skill of the #12 driver is a testament to his approach to life — he lives and breathes racing. As soon as this clip went viral, fans swarmed to the social media platform to laud the Italian.
Nah that’s incredible
— Jordan✌ (@Utd_Jordie) March 9, 2025
This kid lives and breaths racing.
— MotorSphere (@motor_sphere) March 9, 2025
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a wizard. #F1 #MercedesAMGF1 https://t.co/joKrqo1Hmm
— Alex (@AbsCoverage) March 9, 2025
Antonelli, however, will have to undergo a process of unlearning and learning to adapt to the rigors and challenges of driving an F1 car.
Antonelli has his work cut out with Mercedes F1 debut
With a high level of interest and scrutiny already around him, the pressure on Antonelli’s young shoulders is immense.
That said, Antonelli has the benefit of having experienced drivers such as George Russell and Valtteri Bottas around to help him get settled at Brackley. Antonelli’s interaction and dynamic with the duo will be crucial to his development throughout this season.
Mercedes is well aware that Antonelli is just 18 and is unlikely to hit the ground running with immediate effect in his rookie season. So, Toto Wolff has already advised Mercedes shareholders to have realistic expectations.
The team will hope that Antonelli uses 2025 to learn as much as he can, so that he is ready to deliver when the all-important regulation changes take place next year.
