HINCHCLIFFE: Mercedes took a huge gamble on 18-year-old rookie Antonelli – but he already looks like the real deal


It was one of the most stunning driver announcements in recent memory. A childhood dream come true, a risky move for team and driver as well as one that brought an immense amount of media attention and, as a result, pressure.
As he lined up on the grid in Melbourne, in a car he barely knew, in the most challenging conditions a Grand Prix driver can face, the world watched to see if he’d be able to deliver.
And boy did Kimi Antonelli deliver.
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