All Eyes on Antonelli: Mercedes Rookie Shows Promise in Bahrain
After two days of preseason testing in Bahrain, the name on everyone’s lips remains the same: Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes rookie topped timesheets in his first testing session on Wednesday and came in fifth earlier Thursday morning. His teammate, George Russell, came second in his testing session to McLaren’s Lando Norris. The young Italian has been the subject of endless speculation after his seat was announced this past August, and this week’s testing sessions have only added fuel to the Rookie of the Year fire.
Antonelli, 18, enters his first year in Formula One after placing sixth in last year’s Formula Two Championship and winning the Formula Regional Europe Championship in 2023. Since seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was announced last February, Antonelli was team principal Toto Wolff’s top choice to pair Russell. It’s easy to see why, as Antonelli’s dominance beginning back in his karting days, plus a meteoric rise to Formula One has earned him the nickname of the “new Verstappen.” Wolff told motorsport.com, “[Antonelli] knows how to drive, knows who to fight with, and how to be a lion in the car.” The Mercedes Driver Academy alum no doubt holds the weight of the world entering his rookie season.
The question is, what about the car? According to Antonelli and Russell, it’s full steam ahead for the Brackley-based team. The morning practice session was more for familiarizing Antonelli with the W16, but it seems the car performed well enough for the rookie to feel confident. Antonelli told SportsKeeda, “I really enjoyed getting behind the wheel of the W16 and working through our programme…I can’t wait to get back on track tomorrow.” After all, Antonelli did put up the fastest lap on the circuit on Wednesday, pushing himself and the W16 to the limit.
Despite being one of six rookies, only one off from a single-season record, Antonelli remains the standout amongst fans and experts. A first-year driver like Antonelli can't walk away from a season without error, but after a crash ended his first free practice session in a race weekend, Wolff has stood firmly behind his decision to promote the young driver. Despite this, his impressive lap times in Bahrain, mature driving style, and a publicity push from Toto Wolff have made him the one to watch as the lights go out in Australia. After last year’s fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, perhaps the power of youth is what Mercedes needs to go the distance this season.
