Driving test week ‘hell’ for F1 rookie Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli describes a week in the lead-up to his Formula 1 debut as “like hell,” but not because of Lewis Hamilton’s mounting workload.

The 18-year-old rookie passed his driving test in January, six weeks before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

While there were no major scares for Antonelli, he did make “one little mistake” on his theory test. “But I had three allowed, so it was fine”, the Italian told BBC Sport.

Antonelli is George Russell’s new team-mate at Mercedes, after seven-time world champion Hamilton left to join Ferrari on a multi-year deal.

To compete in F1, drivers do not need a regular road licence. They do, however, need to be 18 years old and have obtained a super licence, the qualification issued by the sport’s governing body, the FIA.

“I was really nervous, first of all”, said Antonelli. Because I was actually studying and practicing because I knew I only had a shot, that week was hell.

I had no time to take the driving test again because the preparations begin and then the season begins. So I was incredibly relieved to have already passed away.

Oliver Bearman, the 19-year-old Briton also starting his first full F1 campaign in 2025, made one crucial error on his first test.

” I passed second time and I shouldn’t have said that, “Haas ‘ Bearman joked.

” I didn’t stop at a ‘ stop ‘ sign. I didn’t burn through, I slowed down and I was crawling but you are supposed to stop. That was my first time seeing a “stop” sign because we don’t have any “stop” signs at a race track.