Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Mercedes rookie, is facing a unique challenge as he navigates his first full season in Formula 1 while also preparing for his final school exams. With his debut in the sport already under his belt and the intense demands of F1 racing, Antonelli is determined to finish his education despite the hectic schedule.
On The Fast and the Curious podcast, Antonelli opened up about the difficulty of managing both his career and studies. “I’m trying to fit in a date to take my final exams, which is pretty difficult right now,” he said. “It’s a big commitment, but I know it’s important, especially for my mum, who really cares about it.”
Despite being unable to attend school in person due to his racing commitments, Antonelli stays on top of his coursework by completing lessons online. “I get the material from my teachers after each lesson, and my classmates help me too,” he explained. But the pressure is on, with the intensity of his F1 duties making it harder to keep up with school. “This year has been a lot tougher, and I haven’t kept up as much as I would have liked,” Antonelli admitted.
The young driver also shared his feelings about his least favorite subject—Maths. “Maths, it’s a terrible feeling. I start with numbers, then I get to letters and think, ‘Why am I doing this?’” However, Antonelli enjoys English and Physical Education, subjects that align more with his strengths and interests.
While he hasn’t asked his team principal, Toto Wolff, for help with his homework, Antonelli joked that he might turn to teammate George Russell for some extra Maths tutoring. “If I find him on the plane, I’ll ask him to help me out!”
