Method 1 2025 rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have shared amusing anecdotes about their adventures acquiring a highway drivers’ license.
F1 would be the pinnacle of motorsports, and one of many final driving challenges, however one weird quirk is that drivers technically do not want a highway drivers’ license to have the ability to race within the collection.
At 18, Mercedes debutant Antonelli is the newest driver to first qualify for an FIA superlicence earlier than passing his precise driving check on the highway. And whereas the younger Italian is used to coping with strain on the highest ranges of racing, that did not stop him from feeling shaky earlier than passing his exams.
“I used to be actually nervous,” Antonelli admitted in a dialog with the BBC. “That week was like hell as a result of I used to be actually finding out and practising as a result of I knew I solely had that shot on the finish of the day.
“As a result of then the preparations begin, then the season begins and I had no time to do the driving check once more. So I used to be tremendous pleased to have handed immediately.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
“I made one little mistake on the speculation, however I had three errors allowed, so it was high quality.”
Making himself much more relatable to us mere mortals, Antonelli stated he significantly struggled with parking. “The toughest factor was the parallel parking and reverse parking,” he smiled. “I imply, I am not used to parking an F1 automobile! Positively that was the hardest half.
“I am tremendous pleased to have handed the driving check and at last I can drive alone, and I needn’t ask my mother to carry me to locations. So, I can say I acquired my superlicence earlier than really getting my drivers’ license, which is loopy.”
Fellow 2025 rookie Oliver Bearman managed to get his driving check out of the way in which early when he turned 17, however not on the first time of asking.
“I handed the second time,” the Haas driver stated, a lot to the amusement of the press at his F1 75 press convention. “I should not have stated that…”
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff
Photograph by: Getty Photographs
“I did not cease at a cease signal. I did not burn by way of; I slowed down and I used to be crawling, however you’re speculated to cease. We do not have cease indicators at a race observe in order that was my first sighting of a cease signal…”
“However typical me, or typical racing driver in all probability, I assumed I may go my checks with none classes, in order that’s in all probability the place I went mistaken. After that I took a number of classes. However I have been driving since 2022, so I am a really skilled driver now.”
Antonelli is in good firm, as a result of four-time world champion Max Verstappen was a ‘veteran’ of 14 F1 grands prix earlier than acquiring his license when he turned 18. And like Bearman, the Dutchman too handed after the odd hiccup.
On the time, Verstappen needed to fly again from the Japanese Grand Prix to Belgium to take his check in between his racing commitments. He recalled in an interview with The Occasions final 12 months that he acquired right into a little bit of an argument together with his teacher.
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“The examiner advised me to go proper and I went left. Then I didn’t give method [to pedestrians],” Verstappen stated. “He was not very pleased. I argued with him as a result of I assumed they weren’t really on the crossing. So I used to be, like, ‘However they’re not there but, so why ought to I cease?'”
“Fortunately [I passed]. It could be fairly embarrassing if I hadn’t. I believe he was good to me.”
On this article
Filip Cleeren
Method 1
Oliver Bearman
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Ferrari
Mercedes
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