Mercedes might not have considered the practicality of their impressive gift to their Formula 1 rookie starlet Kimi Antonelli amid restrictions thanks to Italian law
Formula 1 starlet Kimi Antonelli is the proud owner of a brand new Mercedes AMG GT 63 S, the sort of luxury driving machine most of us could only dream about being able to drive. Sadly for the teenager, the road rules in Italy mean he is in the same boat in his homeland.
Antonelli, who only turned 18 last summer, will have to wait until January 2028 before taking his new car for a spin on Italian roads. That’s because of the law in the European country which limits what cars anyone under the age of 21 can drive.
Simply having a licence to drive is not enough to get behind the wheel of some more powerful cars. So the fact Antonelli passed his test in January doesn’t mean he can drive his new supercar.
The law in Italy means anyone who hasn’t been driving for three years is prohibited from driving any car which produces more than 75kW per ton of power. His new Mercedes boasts an impressive output of 430kw per ton, which puts it over the limit by a long way.
Previously, drivers would only need one year of experience on the road before being allowed to drive more powerful cars in Italian roads. But the law was changed last December which tripled that waiting period.
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So because he had to wait until January this year to pass, Antonelli can’t drive such a powerful car until early 2028. But that only applies in Italy – he may at least be able to take it for a spin in other countries while he waits to be allowed to drive it in his homeland.
The teenager has been trusted by Mercedes, though, with their far more powerful Formula 1 machines. And he has made an impressive start to life in the sport and brought home a strong points haul from each of the first three rounds of the season.
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His two sixth-placed finishes in China and Japan, which followed a very impressive drive to fourth in Melbourne after qualifying down in 16th, have seen him amass 30 points to date. That puts Antonelli fifth in the drivers’ championship, ahead of the likes of Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Team principal Toto Wolff, who made the bold decision to promote the youngster to F1 following seven-time champion Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes, has been left very impressed by the way his starlet has adapted to the demands and pressure that come with a top seat in F1.
The Austrian said: “I think we always knew his potential since he was a kid. He performs under pressure. While he fights on-track, he’s also fighting against exams as he finishes school. He’s in his final year of education, and is having to balance his racing and testing.”
Regarding his ongoing schoolwork, Antonelli said: “I have the last year of school. I have final exams. So I’m trying at the moment to fit a date where I can do it, which is pretty difficult. It would be a shame just to quit on the last year of school. And also, my mum cares about it, so I will do it for her as well.”
