Rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli has passed his driving test just six weeks before he makes his Formula One debut for Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix.

Italian Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old rookie replacing seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this season, has passed his driving test.

Already qualified to race at 200mph, only now is the F1 rookie also deemed skilled enough for the public highway

New Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has announced that he has passed his driving test ahead of his debut season in F1 2025. Antonelli is gearing up for his first season in F1, having been signed as Lewis Hamilton’s successor following the seven-time World Champion’s shock switch to Ferrari.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already completed thousands of miles of testing in an F1 car, but couldn't legally drive on the roads until now. | ITV National News

This spring 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli joins the small cast of drivers who will race in Formula 1’s 2025 season. Kimi, as he’s called, fills a slot on the Mercedes team that opened when 40-year-old Lewis Hamilton announced he was moving to Ferrari.

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli passes his driving test six weeks before he makes his Formula 1 debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli unlocked another achievement ahead of the F1 debut.The 18-year-old passed his driving test just six weeks before the Australian Grand Prix, which will mark the start of his F1 career.

Italian Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old rookie replacing seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this season, has passed his driving test. "Mission completed," Mercedes posted on their Instagram account,

Last August ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes announced that Andrea Kimi Antonelli would slide into the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton, making him the third-youngest driver in Formula 1 history.