Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has successfully graduated from high school while managing his rookie Formula 1 season in 2024. Instead of attending the world premiere of the F1 movie in New York after the Canadian Grand Prix, the Italian racer returned to his hometown to sit for a final exam, demonstrating his strong commitment to completing his education despite the demands of his racing career.
Antonelli’s Dedication to Education Amid Racing Commitments
Balancing schoolwork with a demanding F1 schedule has been challenging for Antonelli, who shared his experience shortly after his exam.
“It went well, it didn’t go easy,”
he said to reporters outside the exam room.
“I tried to do my best and now wait for the result.”
His determination to finish school while driving alongside George Russell at Mercedes shows his dedication to both academics and sport.
Throughout the season, Antonelli has had to make the most of limited free time to study. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, he told the media,
“Well, I’m not able to attend school, but I’m trying to study as much as I can, especially in those little moments I have free. I’m getting help from the school as well to try and catch up because I’ve definitely missed a lot of work during this time.”
He acknowledged that managing his energy was crucial, especially before important weekends, but he consistently tried to stay on top of his studies whenever possible.
“But yeah, whenever I’m home or have a bit of time off, I try to do a little bit just to keep active and catch up as much as possible.”
Support from School and Classmates Praised
Alessandra Regina, coordinator of Antonelli’s class at the Salvemini di Casalecchio di Reno Technical Institute near Bologna, praised his commitment and humility. Speaking to the ANSA news agency, she noted,
“While Kimi Antonelli has always had lots of sporting commitments, he never lost sight of school and he never lost sight of the goal of taking his final exams.”
Regina highlighted the support Antonelli received from his classmates, saying,
“We are very happy and proud that Kimi is taking his final exams with his classmates. He is a very humble boy and his classmates support him.”
She further detailed how Antonelli stayed engaged with his studies even amid his traveling schedule:
“When he was travelling for Grands Prix he would call me or write to ask me questions, or he would come straight from the airport to class to have things explained to him again and then he would do the tests. He deserves to take his final exams and pass with flying colours.”
Antonelli’s Graduation Marks a Milestone in His Dual Journey
Completing high school while entering Formula 1 represents a significant personal achievement for Antonelli, signaling his ability to balance intense academic responsibilities with a demanding professional sport. His focus on education alongside racing illustrates a well-rounded approach during the early stages of his career. As he progresses in the F1 championship alongside Mercedes teammate George Russell, Antonelli’s commitment to both his studies and racing ambitions sets a strong example of dedication and discipline for young athletes worldwide.