Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli, born on August 25, 2006, in Bologna, Italy, is a remarkable racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Mercedes. He is the son of renowned sportscar racing driver Marco Antonelli, which undoubtedly influenced his early passion for motorsport. Kimi's journey began in karting, where he achieved significant success, including back-to-back victories at the senior European Championship in 2020 and 2021.

Transitioning to junior formulae, Antonelli made a name for himself by clinching titles in both Italian and ADAC F4 in 2022 while racing for Prema. His talent shone through as he also became a race-winner in Italian GT3 and earned a gold medal for Italy at the FIA Motorsport Games. Following this, he dominated the Formula Regional European and Middle East Championships, showcasing his potential before stepping up to FIA Formula 2 in 2024, where he secured two race wins and finished sixth overall.

A member of the prestigious Mercedes Junior Team since 2019, Kimi signed with Mercedes in 2025, stepping into the role previously held by Lewis Hamilton. At just eighteen years old, he became the third-youngest driver in Formula One history during the Australian Grand Prix. His rookie season was marked by a remarkable podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix and a record as the youngest driver to set a fastest lap.

In 2026, Antonelli continued to impress by winning the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, making history as the youngest-ever polesitter at the former and becoming the youngest leader of the World Drivers' Championship. With a contract ensuring his place at Mercedes until at least the end of the 2026 season, Kimi Antonelli is undoubtedly a rising star in the world of motorsport.