F1 rookies Antonelli and Bearman share amusing driving check struggles

Method 1 2025 rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have shared amusing anecdotes about their adventures acquiring a highway drivers’ license.

F1 will 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 sequence.

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 forestall 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 comfortable to have handed immediately.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures

“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 mentioned he notably 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 automotive! Positively that was the hardest half.

“I am tremendous comfortable to have handed the driving check and eventually I can drive by myself, and I need not ask my mother to carry me to locations. So, I can say I bought 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 mentioned, a lot to the amusement of the press at his F1 75 press convention. “I should not have mentioned that…”

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce

Photograph by: Getty Pictures

“I did not cease at a cease signal. I did not burn by; I slowed down and I used to be crawling, however you’re speculated to cease. We do not have cease indicators at a race monitor in order that was my first sighting of a cease signal…”

“However typical me, or typical racing driver most likely, I assumed I may move my assessments with none classes, in order that’s most likely the place I went mistaken. After that I took a couple 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 Instances final yr that he bought 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 manner [to pedestrians],” Verstappen mentioned. “He was not very comfortable. 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 might 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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