On 24th August, 2024 but until 11.59 pm- Kimi Antonelli was still a seventeen year old.
Hence, he was not yet there in terms of eligibility in Formula 1.
But a minute later upon doing simple schoolboy math became, by virtue of age, totally eligible for Formula 1 entry.
However, on pure talent and skill, Antonelli, but obviously had a lot in him already, which had sparked conversation and when unfounded, then rumours of a possible 2025 Mercedes drive.
Well, there’s no need for any now.
Given verdict has been delivered on the imminent future of an Italian whose first name reminds one of a iconic Finn but one whose immediate racing destination is going to be an English team operating with a German licence, it’s amply clear where this Kimi’s going.
Come 2025 and Formula 1 shall have another new face on its ever competitive grid that now habitually keeps producing fresh talents with endless excitement.
One of those hugely promising names is that of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes-bound for 2025 as per that confirmation one had hugely anticipated for, the future, quite literally, belongs to the youngest driver on the F1 grid (in the most recent times) who took to an F1 car albeit with not the best result a few hours ago at Monza during FP1.
During his first ever interaction in an F1 car but just ahead of a proper Grand Prix qualifying, Antonelli made a visit to the barriers at Monza, in the precursor to the qualifying.
But let us not read too much into that. Driving the Mercedes car of George Russell, a driver who’s never shied away from noting the enormous talent of his future teammate, it could be argued Kimi Antonelli’s earliest introduction to the build up to a proper F1 contest was incident-marred.
But the one who doesn’t resort to mocking and cares little for condescension would note that it wouldn’t mar the confidence and ability of a driver whose performances in F2 have earned him the faith of his future Mercedes team operating in Formula 1.
One among them, Toto Wolff, ever a man who gives it everything to bring out the best from his entire team; a man who’s more of a team leader than a boss, someone who inspires confidence instead of dictating terms in a team that from the onset of 2014 until 2020 ruled F1 with an iron fist.
On his part, Toto Wolff, who’d love to mount a real challenge in both the Drivers as well as Constructors championship come 2025 will be, arguably speaking, relieved at having bagged the services of a driver who’s holding it together quite respectably in his current stint in F2.
Driving for the famous Prema Racing, Kimi Antonelli has already bagged 2 wins and 2 fastest laps from the 16 entries he’s registered so far in 2024.
He’s quick. He’s daring and has an easy going presence. He’s also won multiple single-seater titles regularly throughout his career and it’s a young career.
The Italian F4 championship was won by Kimi who also reigned supreme at the Formula Regional Middle East Championship.
He will, one hopes, bring the much needed fresh resolve and exuberance to the famed Mercedes stable. But let us see what happens in the future where the 2025 season is concerned.
KyroSports wishes young Kimi, remember still a teenager, all the very best for his future racing conquests and aspirations. There’s something in that name Kimi, isn’t it?