Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes driver says week before passing his driving test was ‘hell’

To compete in F1, drivers do not need a regular road licence. They do, however, need to be 18 years old and have obtained a super licence, the qualification issued by the sport’s governing body, the FIA.

“I was really nervous, first of all,” said Antonelli. “That week was like hell because I was really studying and practising because I knew I only had that shot.

“The preparations start and then the season starts and I had no time to do the driving test again. So I was super happy to have passed straight away.”

Oliver Bearman, the 19-year-old Briton also starting his first full F1 campaign in 2025, made one crucial error on his first test.

“I passed second time and I shouldn’t have said that,” Haas’ Bearman joked.

“I didn’t stop at a ‘stop’ sign. I didn’t burn through, I slowed down and I was crawling but you are supposed to stop. We don’t have ‘stop’ signs at a race track so that was my first sighting of a ‘stop’ sign.”

The first grand prix of the 24-race calendar takes place in Melbourne from 14-16 March.