Antonelli passes driving test weeks before making F1 debut with Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli is just weeks away from making his Formula 1 debut – but in the meantime the teenager has celebrated another milestone moment by passing his driving test.
Mercedes shared news of the 18-year-old’s latest achievement by posting a photo to their social media channels showing Antonelli giving a thumbs up while sitting in a driving school car.
“Mission completed,” a caption on the photo read, with the Silver Arrows also using tick emojis to show that the youngster now has both the Super Licence required to race in F1 and a driving licence.
Now seems like as good a time as any for Antonelli to get his road car licence ahead of what will be a busy few weeks during the build-up to the first race of the 2024 season.
The Italian will join his fellow drivers at the spectacular F1 75 Live season launch to be held at London’s The O2 on February 18, where all 10 teams will be in attendance to unveil their liveries for the 2025 campaign.
Antonelli will then see his new car – the W16 – revealed to the world on February 24, just days before pre-season testing takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 26-28.
After all of that, the teenager will line up on the grid for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16, kicking off a season in which Max Verstappen will be looking to defend his title – a driver who actually did not get his own driving licence until after his F1 debut, having contested 14 Grands Prix before achieving the feat following his 18th birthday.

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