Mercedes made the call to replace Lewis Hamilton with young phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and the 18-year-old dazzled in his debut, finishing fourth in challenging conditions after starting in P16. For a moment it looked as if Antonelli would be demoted to fifth due to a five-second penalty that was assessed for an unsafe release,

While other rookies and teams struggled in rainy Melbourne, Mercedes and their youngster emerged tied atop the standings.

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix ended with a twist in the tale as Kimi Antonelli’s post-race penalty was sensationally overturned, restoring the young Italian to fourth place in his stunning Formula 1 debut.