The 18-year-old Italian secured a remarkable fourth-place finish, becoming the youngest F1 debutant to score points and the second youngest ever, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
A rainy and windy Albert Park set the stage for a challenging season opener at the Kimi Antonelli Australian Grand Prix debut on March 16, 2025. Six drivers were making their Formula One debuts, but it was Mercedes’ young talent Kimi Antonelli who stood out. The 18-year-old Italian delivered an impressive fourth-place finish in a race won by Lando Norris, making him the youngest F1 rookie to score points and the second youngest ever, following Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
While four of the six newcomers failed to finish, Antonelli overcame a tough starting position of 16th and navigated the chaos of three safety cars. Initially, a five-second penalty for a pit lane infringement dropped him to fifth, but after a review, the stewards overturned the decision, securing his fourth-place result. His performance added to Mercedes F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli performance strong weekend, with teammate George Russell claiming third place.
Antonelli bounced back from a difficult qualifying session in scorching conditions on March 15, where errors had shaken his confidence. He credited his team for their support in helping him refocus.
“The team did a great job guiding me through. After my mistakes, my confidence took a hit,” Antonelli said. “They calmed me down and got me back into the rhythm, making all the right calls.”
The young Italian has taken over the seat left by Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari after securing six of his seven world championships with Mercedes. Antonelli finished six places ahead of Hamilton, who had a challenging debut for Ferrari, crossing the line in 10th place. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli’s composure and racecraft, especially considering the difficult conditions.
“Even experienced drivers spun or crashed, and it was easier to not finish than to finish. He kept his cool and was very impressive to watch,” Wolff said. “If he continues on this path, he has a great future ahead.”
Mercedes now sits second in the constructors’ standings, trailing McLaren by just two points. While Antonelli’s debut drew plenty of attention, Toto Wolff on Kimi Antonelli’s F1 future also highlighted the leadership role Russell has taken on in Hamilton’s absence.
“There’s a lot of talk about Kimi, and he deserves it, but George is outstanding,” Wolff said. “He pushes the car beyond its limits at times, stays composed, and has become a true leader in the team. We’re lucky to have him.”
As the season moves forward, Mercedes will look to build on this strong start when they head to the Chinese Grand Prix.