Formula 1 Rookie Kimi Antonelli’s Luxury Car Dilemma

Fresh off his impressive debut in the 2025 Formula 1 season with Mercedes, 18-year-old racing sensation Kimi Antonelli has been handed the keys to a brand new AMG GT 63 S. However, this high-performance sports car remains out of reach for home drives due to Italy’s strict road regulations.

Italy’s Road Rules and New Drivers Restrictions

Despite his exceptional skills behind the wheel, Antonelli, a native of Bologna, can’t legally drive this powerhouse on Italian roads until 2028. This is due to a recent change in Italy’s road rules effective from December 14, 2024. These regulations prohibit new drivers from operating vehicles exceeding 75 kW per ton during the initial three years of their license tenure. The Mercedes AMG GT 63 S boasts 430 kW per ton, making it just slightly above this limit. Previously, drivers had to wait only one year for this restriction to be lifted.

For Antonelli, this means he can savor the growl of the car’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine but cannot take it out on public roads within Italy. The vehicle will remain in storage (or outside Italy) for now, despite his exceptional driving prowess that places him fifth in the drivers’ standings.

Antonelli’s Impressive Formula 1 Debut

In his rookie season, Antonelli has proven to be a formidable competitor. Taking over from Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes came with immense pressure, but Antonelli has risen to the challenge, amassing 30 points across the first three race weekends. His Australian performance was particularly noteworthy, qualifying in 16th position after sustaining floor damage, yet finishing fourth in a rain-soaked race.

Antonelli’s skills were further demonstrated in the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, where he finished sixth place in both races.

Balancing School and Racing

While battling it out on the track, Antonelli is also juggling his final year of schooling. He recently shared with The Fast and the Curious podcast that fitting exams into his busy racing schedule is a significant challenge. “I have my final exams this year. So I’m trying at the moment to find a date where I can do it, which is pretty difficult,” he explained.

Antonelli intends to complete his education not only for himself but also for his mother, who places great importance on it. “It would be a shame just to quit on the last year of school. And also, my mum cares about it, so I will do it for her as well.