‘I grew up a lot’ – Kimi Antonelli picks standout moments from rookie season

Kimi Antonelli has been reflecting back on what he felt were the standout moments of his rookie campaign in F1, with the Mercedes driver suggesting that he “grew up a lot as a person” throughout the season.

After two FP1 appearances in the latter stages of 2024, Antonelli made the full-time step up from F2 to Formula 1 when the 2025 championship got underway, going on to collect points on his debut via a P4 finish in Australia.

While there were various highs and lows that followed – from a Sprint Qualifying pole in Miami and a podium in Canada through to a difficult spell during the European leg – the Italian feels that the whole year taught him a lot.

“Obviously [it’s been] a season of ups and downs, but we’ve been having a strong second last part of the season,” Antonelli reflected.

“Definitely a lot of positives to take away and, despite the difficult moments, I have to say I’ve learned massively, and I grew up a lot as a person and I matured a lot.”

Pushed on which was his favourite part of his maiden campaign in the sport, Antonelli responded: “It’s hard to find a favourite part, but I think the whole journey was my favourite part.

“Despite the difficult moments, which obviously that was not as nice, I feel it really helped me to grow and to mature as a person.

“If I have to pick moments, I would say my first race in Melbourne was very special because it was my first race in F1. [Sprint] pole position in Miami, first podium in Canada, Brazil, Vegas…

“There have been many nice moments, but the whole journey has been incredible and it really helped me to grow as a driver and especially as a person.”

Antonelli – who ended 2025 in seventh place of the Drivers’ Championship – is now focused on his sophomore season in 2026, for which he will again line up alongside George Russell at Mercedes as the grid prepare to tackle a new wave of technical regulations.