Kimi Antonelli makes stellar debut at Australian Grand Prix
The Hindu
Kimi Antonelli’s fourth-place finish made him the youngest F1 debutant to score points and the second youngest ever after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen
A wet and windy Albert Park offered a daunting test for the six drivers starting a Formula One season for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday (March 16, 2025) but Mercedes’ teen talent Kimi Antonelli passed his exam with flying colours.
The 18-year-old Italian’s fourth-place finish in the race won by Lando Norris made him the youngest F1 debutant to score points and the second youngest ever after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Four out of the six rookies failed to finish but after qualifying 16th, Antonelli worked his way through the chaos of three safety cars and found himself gunning for a podium spot.
While a five-second penalty for an infringement in the pits initially put him back to fifth, stewards later reversed that decision.
That lifted spirits at Mercedes even higher after Antonelli's teammate George Russell finished third.
Antonelli produced the goods in the rain and wind after an error-strewn qualifying in scorching heat on Saturday (March 15, 2025).
“The team did a great job, they guided me through. After I had the mistakes, I kind of hurt my confidence a little bit,” he said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari advocates for education as key to Muslim upliftment, criticizes caste-based politics in India.
Congress demands government roll back anti-people environmental law amendments after India ranked fifth most polluted country.
Members of the Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) on Sunday sat on a day-long fast at Freedom Park creating awareness on the need to alter multiple provisions of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin defends incorporating Tamil alphabet in Budget logo, emphasizes language policy and budget preparation process.
A once well-stocked library in the Kerala capital that disappeared with the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s is now being slowly rebuilt - book by book
Transport Department standardizes pricing for Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and panic buttons, facing opposition from unions over high costs.
BJP MLA demands ban on 'non-Hindus' near Kedarnath temple, sparking controversy; Congress criticizes for sensationalism.
EOW arrests two more suspects in NICB case, including Arunachalam Ullahanathan Maruthuvar, for misappropriation of funds.
B.S. Yediyurappa is a mass leader of Karnataka, working for the welfare of all communities, says BJP State president.
Osmania University circular prohibits protests in academic areas, sparking controversy and student backlash, with demands for withdrawal.
Devotees of Ondikaruppu Temple at Rettamalai on the outskirts of Tiruchi near Edamalaipattipur continue to face ordeal in the absence of a proper road
Water till the last acre, assures Komatireddy
Model primary schools should not undermine existing institutions, caution UTF leaders. Calling for due diligence while introducing reforms, they say that upper primary schools, with a strength of above 60, should either be upgraded into high schools or be allowed to continue in their present form. Inordinate delay in payment of dues to employees and teachers a cause for concern, they say.