Kimi Antonelli earns praise from teacher: “Never lost sight of the goal of taking his final exams”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has had a successful month so far. Not only did he secure his maiden podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, but he also completed a major exam as he continues his schooling alongside his Formula 1 career. As he continues to excel in both racing and his education, his teacher has commented on her pride for her young student. 

Alessandra Regina, the coordinator of Antonelli's class at the Salvemini di Casalecchio di Reno Technical Institute near Bologna, has sung the driver's praises.

"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," she told ANSA news agency. 

The young driver replaced seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and races alongside George Russell in what has so far been a successful season for the Brackley outfit. Sitting behind leaders McLaren in the constructors' standings, they overtook Ferrari after the Italian team struggled in Canada. 

Antonelli is seventh in the drivers' standings, just 16 points behind Hamilton after he finished third at the Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and race winner and team-mate Russell.

"We are very happy and proud that Kimi is taking his final exams with his classmates," Regina continued. "He is a very humble boy and his classmates support him."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

She added that Antonelli is entirely committed to his education, with the driver reaching out to her between his race weekend obligations to ask for help and even travelling directly to the school to continue learning and sit tests before heading home. 

"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," she said. "He deserves to take his final exams and pass with flying colours."

Antonelli is keen to do this not only for himself, but also for his mother. 

“I’m getting a lot of help from school, I’m not going to lie – they’re sending me stuff over, but it’s a big commitment," he told The Fast and the Curious. "To be honest, I always say I don’t really want to do this, but when I think back it’s important as well.

“I’ve been doing so many years of school and it would be a shame to just quit on the last year of school, and also my Mum really cares about it, so I will do it for her as well.”

His teacher shared a heartwarming moment between herself and her racing driver pupil.

"He once said something beautiful to me: 'I'm happy to go back to school and I'm happy to go back to school for my classmates'.

"There's a wonderful relationship between him and the other kids and they're great because they support him."

The Imola race weekend saw the Mercedes driver invite his classmates to the paddock where he'd organised a number of activities. 

"It's a good way to keep the relationship because I don't spend much time at home, so I don't see them often," he admitted.