Mercedes Confirms Antonelli’s Solid Prep with 9000 km in F1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s exceptional preparation for Formula 1 includes nearly 9,000 kilometers of testing, solidifying Mercedes’ confidence in their young recruit.

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team principal, revealed the number of kilometers covered by their new recruit, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, during private testing. Mercedes F1 has signed the young Italian for 2025 and provided him with an extensive program, including FP1 sessions and TPC (Testing of Previous Cars), enabling the driver to cover nearly 10,000 kilometers.

“He’s covered approximately 9,000 kilometers in Formula 1,” said Wolff, while maintaining a cautious outlook. “If you expect him to be on pole position in Melbourne, win the race, and immediately fight for the championship, the risk is high because that won’t happen.”

The Austrian reiterated that Antonelli was recruited to use the 2025 season for training, with hopes he will be ready for 2026 after gaining a year of Formula 1 experience in addition to his testing mileage.

“If we consider that this young man is 18 years old, extremely talented, but needs to grow and will inevitably make mistakes, then the risk is minimal. That’s why we’re taking this approach. We see 2025 as a transitional year, aiming to prepare him for 2026.”

Wolff, however, revealed that he is tempering expectations among the team’s owners: “We’ve warned our shareholders not to assume that strong results in testing will automatically translate into performance on the track. We hope it happens quickly, but it won’t be from the start.”

According to Wolff, this transitional year explains why there are so many rookies in Formula 1 this season: “There will be new regulations in 2026. Teams want to prepare for that, which is why they prefer to develop recruits starting next year.”

“I think one of the triggers was Oliver Bearman’s debut with Ferrari. He stepped into the car with no preparation, ran a free practice session, and was immediately competitive. Then [Franco] Colapinto at Williams also made his mark. Suddenly, everyone realized young drivers are starting at a high level.”