F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli passes his final exams to graduate from high school
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, center, of Italy, celebrates with teammates after the F1 Canadian Grand Prix auto race in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Formula 1 rookie Kimi Antonelli passed his final exams to graduate from high school back home in Italy just like he's been passing other cars on tracks around the world: without trouble.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, celebrates after his third-place finish at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix auto race in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
The 18-year-old Mercedes driver made the announcement in an Instagram story Monday, saying “promosso” — “passed” — with a photo of himself wearing a laurel wreath.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, turns in the hairpin during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix, in Montreal on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Evan Buhler/The Canadian Press via AP)
After claiming his first podium result with a third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, Antonelli returned home to Casalecchio di Reno, near Bologna, to take his exams.
“I was fairly stressed, because I didn’t have much time to study. But I did my best,” Antonelli told reporters after taking the first portion of exams last week.
He said English is his favorite subject “because that’s the one that comes easiest for me.”
Antonelli added that he wanted to complete the exams, which included both written and oral sections, before the upcoming Austrian GP “so I can focus full time on racing.”
F1 Canadian Grand Prix Auto Racing
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Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, takes part in a press conference at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix auto race in Montreal, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
