Charged with stepping in to fill the vacant spot at Mercedes this season, the relatively unknown Kimi Antonelli had a seven-time F1 Champion-sized hole to fill as he took over Lewis Hamilton’s drive for the team. Expectations were tempered about how Kimi Antonelli would take to the task at the top level of motor racing as he joined his new teammate, George Russell. But right off the grid, the young Italian has made an impressive start to life in Formula One and has already broken two of Max Verstappen’s records.
Gaining Attention
There are moments in Formula 1 and related fields that make people sit up and take notice. For example, gamblers check the description of casino promos by Legalbet, which analyses online operators and compares their offers, to use them on various games — including racing themed slots. In titles like Formula X, the bonus round can be one of those moments, just like in real life racing, when a rookie drives brilliantly. Antonelli’s fantastic performance in Japan at the start of the 2025 F1 season did just that. Surrounded by some illustrious and experienced company, the youngster still managed to shine.
Youngest Race Leader
The first record that Antonelli took at the Japanese Grand Prix was that of becoming the youngest-ever leader of a lap in an F1 race. He took that record from Max Verstappen by just four days as he found himself out in front of the pack on Lap 22, following a throng of pit stops that shook up the on-track positions.
Somewhat fittingly, Antonelli inherited the record-breaking lead at Suzuka from Verstappen as the Dutchman pitted. On medium tyres, Antonelli dipped into the pits himself on Lap 31 for a stop of his own when he switched to hards, something which helped him claim another record.
Youngest Driver to Set the Fastest Lap
In the same race, the Mercedes driver broke another of Max Verstappen’s F1 records. On Lap 50, Antonelli posted a lap time of 1:30.965, which no one would go on to better in the closing stages.
It was a blistering lap which put Antonelli at the top of the charts as the youngest driver ever to finish a Grand Prix with the Fastest Lap. The only disappointing thing about it, from Antonelli’s perspective, is that the FIA did away with the bonus point system for the Fastest Lap ahead of the 2025 season.
Mercedes Sings Praises
Mercedes can’t be any happier with the start that Antonelli has made. He recorded a 4th place finish on his debut F1 drive in Australia and followed up with back-to-back P6’s at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin said of the driver, “It was another mature performance from Kimi as he continues to build his experience.”
Antonelli’s Strong Traits
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff had a big task on his hands during the off-season, as Hamilton left to join the Prancing Horse. Mercedes at one point looked very keen on pursuing reigning world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull, but instead, Wolff put stock in the Mercedes youth program, from where Antonelli came.
Antonelli has always been praised for his composure throughout his young career, which included him being a serial winner in karting. He looks like a natural and has been lauded for his fast meteoric pace as well as for being enthusiastic but intelligent, with good communication skills.
Antonelli was driving in F2 last year and, as the least experienced driver in the field, finished the season in sixth place. He had been with the Mercedes Junior Team since 2019 before signing to F1 where, on his debut aged 18 years, 202 days, he became the third-youngest driver behind only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll.
After Verstappen’s F1 debut at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix at 17 years and 166 days, the FIA moved the minimum age to obtain a super licence (required to drive in F1) to 18 years old. Antonelli only became old enough to earn his in August last year. He had, however, even before that, already earned enough points to get it, thanks to F4 and Formula Regional series wins.
Making the Mark
The hype about Andrea Kimi Antonelli looks real, and there is talk that Mercedes views him as a Verstappen-like future talent. That’s why they were so keen to fast-track him up to the top level after just one season at F2.
Following his record-breaking feats at the Japanese Grand Prix, Antonelli was informed about them post-race, to which he calmly replied, “Now it’s a podium next!” and the forecast may not take long to become a reality.