Mercedes is encouraging Kimi Antonelli to focus on the positive learnings he can take from his rookie season in F1 2025.

It’s been a season of mixed fortunes for the 18-year-old Italian, who burst into Formula 1 with Mercedes this year on a wave of hype.

Bradley Lord: Mercedes is encouraging Kimi Antonelli to focus on learning

As a product of the Mercedes driver programme, Antonelli arrived in Formula 1 this year with plenty of hype and expectation around him after a strong junior category career.

While his Formula 2 campaign had been somewhat subdued in 2024, he was put through a rigorous preparation programme of TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) outings with Mercedes, who duly confirmed him as Lewis Hamilton’s successor following the departure of the seven-time F1 World Champion for Fer

See Full Page