Andrea Kimi Antonelli has had an eventful week marked by significant highs and lows. Just as Mercedes announced his promotion to a Formula 1 seat for 2025, the young talent reflected on the emotional rollercoaster stemming from his recent experiences, including a tough debut at Monza and a near-pole finish in Formula 2 qualifying.
In Azerbaijan, Antonelli came within a whisker of securing his first Formula 2 pole position, finishing just 0.017 seconds shy and placing second in the feature race. He shared his thoughts on the close call, stating, as reported by GP Blog:
“It’s a bit disappointing. Second is good, but finishing P2 by such a narrow margin is always frustrating. However, I think it was a solid session overall.”
“I was able to improve lap by lap and managed to put in a strong lap on my second set of tires, which wasn’t easy due to an early red flag disrupting the flow.”
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His journey took another twist during his F1 debut for Mercedes in FP1 at Monza, where a crash cut his session short. This misfortune complicated an already challenging weekend, especially with the announcement of his upcoming role as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.
“Monza was tough on a mental level. Despite that, it was a relief to have the announcement finally made official. These past two weeks have been hectic as I start collaborating with Mercedes to soak in as much knowledge as I can,” Antonelli said.
“I plan to do some trackside work in the future to understand how a full race weekend operates. It’s been an intense fortnight, but I feel much better mentally now that the announcement is out.”
Looking towards his debut F1 season with Mercedes, Antonelli remarked:
“It’s amazing to be announced as a Mercedes driver alongside George for 2025. Becoming an F1 driver has been a dream since childhood, and I’m very grateful for the support and trust the team has shown me. I’m still learning, but I believe I’m ready for this opportunity. I’ll focus on improving and delivering the best for the team.”
“I’m excited to partner with George, who came through the team’s junior program just like me. I have a ton of respect for him; he’s incredibly fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me grow as a driver. I can’t wait to learn from him and work together on the track.”