Antonelli Shines on Debut as Mercedes Teen Scores Points

TDT | Manama
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Mercedes’ 18-year-old debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli made an assured start to his Formula 1 career, finishing fourth at a rain-hit Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. In a race won by McLaren’s Lando Norris, the Italian navigated testing conditions to become the youngest driver to score points on debut, with teammate George Russell taking third.

Rookie Resilience in the Rain

Albert Park threw a stern challenge at the six rookies starting their F1 journeys, with wet and windy weather triggering three safety cars and chaos across the 57 laps. Four newcomers—Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson—failed to finish, but Antonelli rose above the fray. Starting 16th after a shaky qualifying in Saturday’s heat, he picked his way through the field, capitalising on others’ misfortune to chase a podium. “It was tough out there, but I kept it together,” Antonelli said post-race. His fourth-place finish marks him as the second-youngest points-scorer in F1 history, behind only Max Verstappen.

Penalty Scare Overturned

Antonelli’s debut nearly hit a snag when a five-second pitlane penalty dropped him to fifth behind Williams’ Alexander Albon. The infringement stemmed from a procedural error during one of his stops, but stewards later reviewed and rescinded the sanction, restoring his position. The decision capped a strong day for Mercedes, with Russell’s third adding to the tally. “Fourth feels great after yesterday’s struggles,” Antonelli noted, reflecting on his error-prone qualifying. Team boss Toto Wolff praised the teenager’s composure: “He showed real maturity in those conditions.”

Mercedes Momentum Builds

Russell’s podium and Antonelli’s points gave Mercedes an early boost in a season opener dominated by McLaren. The Briton, finishing 8.481 seconds behind Norris, was pragmatic about the result. “Not our fastest car today, but we’ll take third and fourth,” he said. For Antonelli, the step from junior formulas to F1’s deep end proved seamless, his wet-weather nous turning heads. With Red Bull’s Verstappen in second, the pecking order is taking shape—but Mercedes’ rookie has already staked his claim.