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.
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