Imagine that your dream is to race in the Formula 1 World Championship, and to fulfill it at just 18 years old. This is what will happen to Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025, as officially confirmed a few weeks ago. “I haven’t realized yet that I’m going to compete in Formula 1, I’ll probably fully understand it when I’m on the grid in Melbourne”, he admitted speaking to us at Bell Racing. Already rated as one of motorsport’s next big things, the young Italian talent has been promoted to race driver status after an impressive career in the feeder series. Between 2022 and 2023 he achieved four titles in the Italian F4, ADAC F4, Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European Championships, plus a gold medal in the F4 category at the FIA Motorsport Games.
Skipping Formula 3, in 2024 Antonelli moved directly into the highly-competitive Formula 2, still with PREMA Racing. “I made a big jump, from Formula Regional to Formula 2, with a lot of things to learn at the beginning. The step was pretty tough, but I have to say that the winter preparation helped me not to feel it too much. It’s been a season of ups and downs, but I’m happy with the progression I made also with the team,” Kimi told us. During the season, he won the Silverstone Sprint Race and the Budapest Feature Race.
Meanwhile, he already tested Formula 1 cars in several private testing days, as well as in the FP1 sessions at the Italian and Mexico City Grands Prix, and in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. “The year has been very intense, as I had to combine commitments in F2 with training for Formula 1. Even during the F2 fall break I was on-site at the race events to get to know the team and the people I will be working with next year.”
Kimi has always been on the radar of insiders and enthusiasts, much more than other young prospects. Credit goes to his performance, and the speed with which he has been able to put himself on the map. The pressure doesn’t scare him, being aware of the challenges ahead. “In this sport to get ahead you have to get good results, and that is not always easy. It will be the same next year, because once you get to the top the hardest thing will be to keep being fast.”
In his years as a frontrunner in the junior formulas, Kimi has always worn Bell Racing helmets. “I’ve been using Bell since I’ve been in single-seaters, and I’ve been comfortable with it right from the start. The support has been tremendous, and it has increased this year with my move to F2, including on-track assistance during race weekends. I am happy to be with Bell, and to be able to continue together,” he underlined.
When we asked him what it’s like behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, Kimi said: “The feeling is impossible to describe, until you drive it. The car has an outstanding speed, and every time I get in it I understand the work of 2,000 people. It’s insane how quick and challenging driving an F1 is in certain aspects. It takes time to master it, but each time I gain experience, and I get to play with it a little bit more.”
What does Kimi look for from a helmet in particular? “A very important aspect is that it fits well, that it doesn’t move while you’re driving, that it stays on tight. With Bell, at the start of the year we did the head scan to prepare a helmet that wears perfectly. It must be lightweight too, even more in Formula 1 with the huge G-forces that put a lot of strain on the neck. The lighter the helmet, while still meeting safety standards of course, the better.”
To ensure maximum performance driving the Formula 1 car, fine tuning had to be made to his HP77 helmet. “Between F2 and F1 my helmet is slightly different, to direct the airflow differently and keep it stable by applying specific aerodynamic appendages. This is thanks to Bell’s support”, Kimi revealed.
And then there is the livery, a distinctive element of any driver’s helmet. Kimi has a sort of old-school approach to this. “I’ve been having this design since the beginning of my career. It has varied slightly over the years, but the colors are the same. There is a nod to Italy, with red, green and white, along with a touch of blue, which is my favorite color. On the top there are also stars, I’ve wanted them ever since I was racing with go karts. For next year at Imola I will use a special edition helmet, slightly modifying the design, but the color base will be unaltered. I don’t find any reason to change!”.
The countdown to the 2025 campaign, then, goes on. What Grand Prix is Antonelli most looking forward to? The answer is easy: “For sure the opener in Australia, which will mark my Formula 1 debut. Then of course my home race at Imola, which will be really special, as well as in Monza.”
