Antonelli’s other battle: The race he must win off the track

For most 18-year-olds, high school finals are stressful enough. But for Kimi Antonelli, tackling his exams while also competing against the best drivers in the world in his F1 debut season is a challenge of a completely different magnitude.

The young Italian has made an impressive start to the 2025 season, proving why Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff placed so much faith in him.

Yet, while Antonelli is handling well the immense pressure of competing at motorsport’s highest level, he's struggling with a far tougher foe beyond his world of racing.

“I have the last year of the 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 at the moment,” Antonelli admitted during a recent interview on The Fast and the Curious podcast.

Finding Time Between Racing and Revisions

Antonelli’s timing couldn’t be worse. As F1 plunges this weekend into a grueling triple-header – Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia – he’s juggling steering wheels and study guides. And quitting isn’t an option, though.

“It would be a shame just to, you know, quit on the last year of school. And also, my mum cares about it, so I will do it for her as well,” he said.

The pressure is hude: a global racing calendar clashing with a personal promise.

“I’m getting a lot of help from the school, I’m not going to lie, they’re sending me stuff over but it’s a big commitment,” he added.

Yet, one subject looms like a chicane with high kerbs: math, his Achilles’ heel.

“It’s a terrible thing; I’m not going to lie; it’s something I have to do but it’s a difficult subject,” he admitted.

The contrast is stark. On the track, Antonelli thrives under pressure – fourth in Australia despite a 16th-place qualifying, sixth in China with a Driver of the Day nod.

Off it, he’s scrambling to pencil in exam dates between pit stops. It’s a rare double-challenge in F1: chasing podiums while chasing a diploma.

Most drivers his age would’ve ditched textbooks long ago, as Max Verstappen did at the time, but Antonelli’s resolve – and his mother’s expectations – keep him in the fight.

Rising Star, Reluctant Student

Antonelli’s racing pedigree is undeniable. Turning 18 in August 2024, he stepped into Hamilton’s shoes at Mercedes with team boss Toto Wolff’s unwavering faith.

His early results justify the hype: a gritty climb from 16th to fourth in Australia, trailing only Norris, Verstappen, and Russell, followed by a fan-favorite run in China. Yet, he remains grounded.

“Well, I don’t really have a lot of expectations, to be honest,” he said of his rookie season. “What I’m really going to do is trying to focus on the process, try to enjoy as well.

“But definitely something I really want to do is start with a good rhythm and try to build from it and try to be consistent. Of course, the mindset is always going to be the same, so trying to go on track and win and do the best job as possible.”

Read also:

• Antonelli: Learning from Bono’s experience ‘a very big privilege’

That focus shines on race day, but off-track, the chaos of equations and deadlines tests his mettle. Math, with its unforgiving logic, feels like a rival he can’t outpace – a sharp contrast to the intuitive flow of driving.

The school’s support helps, but the commitment gnaws at his time and energy, a relentless pit crew of its own.
For now, this Mercedes rookie is proving that in F1—and in life—the toughest battles aren’t always on the grid.

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