Why F1 Star Kimi Antonelli Can’t Drive His Mercedes-AMG GT63 Until 2028 — Even After Racing at 300km/h

2025-06-17

While Kimi Antonelli dazzles the world in his debut F1 season in 2025, setting blistering lap times at over 300km/h, there’s one surprising place where the 18-year-old isn’t allowed to unleash his skills — the public roads of Italy.

Despite his success on the racetrack, including a third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, the rising Mercedes star will have to wait several years before he can legally drive his gifted Mercedes-AMG GT63 S coupé on local streets.

Italy’s Power Restrictions for New Drivers

To celebrate Antonelli's debut, Mercedes-Benz gifted him a stunning 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S Coupé in April 2025. This supercar boasts a monstrous 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque — roughly five times the power allowed for new drivers under Italian law.

As per the European Transport Safety Council’s regulations, drivers who recently obtained their licence in Italy are restricted to vehicles producing no more than 75kW for their first three years on the road. Since Antonelli received his standard driver’s licence in January 2025, he’ll have to wait until 2028 before being legally allowed to drive his AMG on public roads.

The Incredible Performance of the Mercedes-AMG GT63

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S isn’t just any car. With a retail price starting at $366,500 before on-road costs, this luxury sports coupé is built for pure performance:

0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds
Top speed of 315km/h
9-speed automatic transmission
Advanced twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain

Even more jaw-dropping is the GT63 S E Performance variant, which combines a V8 engine with plug-in hybrid technology to produce a staggering 600kW and 1420Nm of torque, launching from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds.

Power Restrictions for P-Platers in Australia

While Antonelli navigates Italy’s driving laws, young drivers in Australia also face their own strict P-Plate restrictions depending on the state or territory. Here’s a quick overview of power limits for provisional drivers across Australia:

New South Wales (NSW)

Maximum allowable power-to-weight ratio: 130kW per tonne
Maximum speed limit: 90km/h
Example: A Mazda MX-5 with 135kW and tare mass of 1015kg exceeds the limit (133kW/tonne).

Victoria

Same 130kW/tonne power-to-weight limit
No speed limit restriction for P-platers
Restrictions on use of mobile devices while driving

Queensland

130kW/tonne power-to-weight limit
P-platers can only carry one non-family passenger under 21 years old between 11:00pm and 5:00am.

Western Australia

Driving prohibited between midnight and 5:00am for first six months, unless travelling to/from work or education
No separate power-to-weight limit specified, but still strict on high-performance vehicles

High-Performance Driving Reserved for the Track

For now, drivers like Kimi Antonelli may rule the world’s fastest racetracks, but road laws worldwide — including Australia — prioritise safety for newly licensed drivers. High-powered vehicles like the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S Coupé are simply too much machine for inexperienced motorists on public roads.

While it might seem ironic that an F1 driver racing at 300km/h can’t drive his own supercar on city streets, the laws are designed to ensure young drivers gain sufficient real-world driving experience before handling high-performance vehicles.

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Credit: Drive.com.au