Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will replace seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, has passed his driving test ahead of his debut at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Mercedes announced on the eve of last year’s Italian Grand Prix that their F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli would replace Lewis Hamilton, who had confirmed his departure from the team back in February.
The Bologna-born driver, who competed in Formula 2 last season, has completed several test outings with Mercedes since the Brackley-based outfit announced his promotion. He first carried out running with the 2021 F1 Mercedes at the Red Bull Ring before racking up mileage with the 2022 F1 Mercedes in Imola and in Silverstone.
Antonelli then went on to gain experience at Spa in August before completing his first running on a race weekend. The 18-year-old took over George Russell’s car in the opening practice session at the Italian Grand Prix, but a mistake on his second flying lap saw him crash into the barriers at the Parabolica corner.
He then travelled to Mexico, where he drove Lewis Hamilton’s car in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where he admittedly took a calmer approach to avoid any mistake.
The Mercedes junior has recently completed another test run, this time at Jerez, racking up laps in the 2021 F1 Mercedes on at the beginning of January in nice weather conditions.
The Italian sensation, who will become the first Italian to compete in F1 since Antonio Giovinazzi , has now announced that he has passed his driving test ahead of his debut at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Kimi errou uma questão na prova teórica da autoescola, mas não teve dificuldades no teste prático porque treinou no Fiat Scudo da Antonelli Motorsport.
Ele foi perfeito a bordo do VW Golf MK8 na prova final, passando pelo exame de baliza, aclives e declives e na rota exigida em… pic.twitter.com/TexTdJ0Alm
— Mercedes-AMG F1 Brasil 🇧🇷 (@MercedesAMGF1BR) January 28, 2025
