How Kimi Antonelli could break one of Max Verstappen’s oldest F1 records in his first three Mercedes races

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli is gearing up for his debut season in Formula 1 in 2025 with Mercedes.

Antonelli is one of six new full-time drivers on the F1 gird this season. The Italian arguably has the most pressure on his shoulders as he replaces seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows.

The 18-year-old has had a meteoric rise up the motorsport ladder. He finished sixth in his rookie Formula 2 season last year – where he skipped Formula 3 after winning FRECA in 2023.

Teaming up with George Russell for 2025, Antonelli has already done 9,000km in testing ahead of his rookie season in F1. Toto Wolff rates the Italian sensation highly and he is looking to get him as prepared as possible for the upcoming season.

Joining Mercedes will give the 18-year-old a great chance to fight at the front of the field – at least that is what he will be expected to do. The team are aiming to build upon their encouraging end to the 2024 season and improve on their fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship.

It will be an incredible feat if the Italian takes victory in 2025 – but if he does so in the first three races of the season, he will add his name to the history books.

Kimi Antonelli could become F1’s youngest winner in his first three races for Mercedes

Antonelli will be the youngest driver on the F1 grid this season. In fact, he will become the third youngest driver in F1 history behind Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen.

The Italian will be 18 years and 203 days old when he makes his debut at the Australian Grand Prix – which gives him the chance to become F1’s youngest race winner.

Verstappen set the record at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix on his Red Bull debut. Benefitting from the two Mercedes crashing into each other on the first lap, the Dutchman won the race from the two Ferraris at the age of 18 years and 228 days old.

This means that Antonelli will have 25 days from the moment he makes his debut in Melbourne to beat Verstappen’s record – and he has three opportunities to do it.

After the season opener in Australia on March 14-16, the F1 world heads to Shanghai a week later. The Japanese Grand Prix on April 4-6 will be the final chance for the Mercedes driver to beat Verstappen’s nine-year-old record.

Will Kimi Antonelli break Max Verstappen’s record?

As aforementioned, it will be an incredible feat for Antonelli to win at all this season – let alone in the first three races. It seems unlikely the 18-year-old will come to F1 and win straight away.

Mercedes are looking to put the young talent under as little pressure as possible. Wolff has little expectations of Antonelli in Australia as he knows 2025 is a transition year ahead of the new technical regulations in 2026.

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

The new era of F1 cars will present a great opportunity for Mercedes and Antonelli to storm the field and mount a title challenge – especially as the latter will have had a year under his belt.

Verstappen is ‘convinced’ Mercedes will have the fastest engine in 2026, which will encourage Antonelli about the future. The only question is whether he can perform with the team in the meantime.