Antonelli reflects a year on from his first ever test in F1: "It was literally snowing!"

11:05, 26 Apr

byOlly Darcy

A full year is a long time in motorsport and Formula 1. 365 days ago, Kimi Antonelli had never got behind the wheel of an F1 car as he prepared for his maiden test. Now, in 2025, he is well and truly in the world of F1, alongside George Russell at Mercedes at just 18 years of age.

On the 17th and 18th of April, the Italian took part in two days of testing around the Red Bull Ring in the Styrian Hills of Austria, getting behind the wheel of the W12, the car that almost took Lewis Hamilton to his eighth world title in 2021.

The test was part of Mercedes' heritage programme, allowing Antonelli to get a feel for a Formula 1 car, completing over 500km in the two days of testing in Spielberg and giving the then 17-year-old his first taste of life in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Antonelli currently sits in P6 in the drivers' standings with 38 points, helping Mercedes to P2 in the constructors' standings

Antonelli "changed a lot" as he reflects on his first test

The first day of his test was hampered quite dramatically by the weather, with the Styrian Hills producing some snow in the middle of April to give Antonelli something else to think about in his first test.

"I mean it's already a year, it feels like yesterday, honestly," the Italian started by saying in the paddock at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with GPblog present, amazed that it's already been a year since his first test days.

"At the snowy Red Bull Ring, too! Oh my god, I remember that day! I couldn't believe it when I woke up and opened the curtains, and it was literally snowing. I was like, 'This might not be the best condition to do my first ever Formula 1 test!'"

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However, it did not deter the Italian one bit on the track during his first testing days, and it culminated in him becoming Lewis Hamilton's replacement after the Brit made the huge move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season.

"I changed a lot, of course," continued Antonelli, now reflecting on how much he has changed and improved since that test.

"I have a lot more experience and a lot more knowledge of how everything works. So definitely, it's been a great journey so far since that first test, and hopefully it will be an even better one," he concluded.