Kimi Antonelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli at the 2025 United States Grand Prix
Born	Andrea Kimi Antonelli (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 19) Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Parent(s)	Marco Antonelli (father)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Italian
Car number	12
Entries	5 (5 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	38
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	1
First entry	2025 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2026 Chinese Grand Prix
Last entry	2025 Singapore Grand Prix
2025 position	7th (150 pts)
Championship titles
FR European FR Middle East ADAC F4 Italian F4
Medal record Formula racing Representing  Italy FIA Motorsport Games Gold 2022 Le Castellet F4 Cup
Signature

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (born on August 25, 2006) is a talented Italian racing driver. He competes in Formula One, the highest level of motor racing, for the Mercedes team. Kimi made history by winning the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix with Mercedes when he was just 19 years old.

Kimi grew up in Bologna, Italy. His father, Marco Antonelli, was also a successful sportscar racing driver. Kimi started his racing journey in karting, winning many championships, including the European Championship in 2020 and 2021. He then moved up to junior formulae, where he quickly won titles in Italian and ADAC F4 in 2022. He also earned a gold medal for Italy at the FIA Motorsport Games.

After winning the Formula Regional European and Middle East Championships in 2023, Kimi moved to FIA Formula 2 in 2024. He won two races and finished sixth overall. Kimi joined the Mercedes Junior Team in 2019. He signed with Mercedes for Formula One in 2025, taking the place of Lewis Hamilton and becoming teammates with George Russell. He was the third-youngest driver to start a Formula One race at 18 years old. In his first season, he achieved his first podium finish and became the youngest driver to set a fastest lap. In 2026, he became the youngest-ever driver to get pole position and won his first Grand Prix. Kimi is set to stay with Mercedes until at least the end of the 2026 season.

Kimi's Early Life

Antonelli is the son of sportscar racing driver and team owner Marco Antonelli.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born in Bologna, Italy, on August 25, 2006. His father, Marco Antonelli, is a sportscar racing driver. He also owns a racing team called AKM Motorsport. Kimi's mother, Veronica Antonelli, has worked in motorsport since 1997. Kimi has a younger sister named Maggie.

Kimi's middle name, Kimi, was suggested by a family friend. It was not given to him because of the famous Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen. Kimi studied international relations and marketing at school. He learned to speak English during his race weekends. His father first wanted him to play association football (soccer). However, Kimi showed more interest in motorsport, so he started karting.

Kimi's Junior Racing Journey

Karting Success (2014–2021)

Kimi started kart racing when he was seven years old. He quickly won many championships. In 2018, he joined the Mercedes Junior Team. He continued to win major karting events, including the WSK Champions Cup and the South Garda Winter Cup.

In 2019, Kimi moved to the OK-Junior category, which is for drivers under 15. He won several series, like the South Garda Winter Cup and the WSK Super Master Series. He also finished second in the European Championship. In 2020, at just 14, Kimi won the European Championship in the senior OK class. He was named the FIA Karting Rookie of the Year for his amazing performance. He won the European Championship again in 2021, showing how dominant he was in karting.

Formula 4 Championships (2021–2022)

Antonelli debuted in the 2021 Italian F4 Championship at the Red Bull Ring.

Kimi made his debut in junior formulae in the 2021 Italian F4 Championship when he was 15. He quickly showed his talent, scoring podium finishes in his first few races.

Antonelli dominated Italian F4 in 2022 with a then-record thirteen victories.

In 2022, Kimi had an incredible year. He won both the Italian F4 and ADAC Formula 4 titles with the Prema team. He set a record with thirteen victories in Italian F4.

Antonelli further claimed the ADAC F4 title, followed by a gold medal at the FIA Motorsport Games.

He also represented Italy at the FIA Motorsport Games. There, he won a gold medal in the Formula 4 Cup, even though he had a broken left wrist. Kimi finished his Formula 4 career with 26 wins and 37 podium finishes, making him one of the most successful drivers in the history of the series.

Formula Regional Triumphs (2023)

In 2023, Kimi moved up to the Formula Regional series. He competed in the Middle East Championship and won the title with three victories.

Antonelli won the Formula Regional European Championship in his rookie season with Prema.

He then went on to win the Formula Regional European Championship in his first season. He secured five wins and 11 podiums. Kimi dedicated his championship win to Dilano van 't Hoff, a fellow driver who passed away during the season. He was also voted the best driver of the season by the team principals.

FIA Formula 2 Experience (2024)

Antonelli (pictured in Spielberg) progressed to FIA Formula 2 with Prema in 2024.

Kimi skipped FIA Formula 3 Championship and moved directly to FIA Formula 2 in 2024 with the Prema team. The team faced challenges adapting to new car rules. Kimi scored his first points in the opening round. He achieved a pair of sixth-place finishes in the second round.

Antonelli took his maiden F2 victory at the rain-affected Silverstone round.

Kimi earned his first F2 victory at the rainy Silverstone round. He then won his first feature race in Hungary. He finished the season in sixth place overall with two wins and three podiums. Kimi missed the final round due to illness.

Formula One Career

In April 2019, Mercedes announced that Kimi had joined their Mercedes Junior Team. He completed several private tests with the team, driving their Formula One cars.

Kimi made his first official appearance in a Formula One practice session at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. He also took part in another practice session at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix.

Mercedes (2025–present)

2025: Rookie Season and First Podium

Antonelli (pictured at the Japanese Grand Prix) debuted in Formula One with Mercedes in 2025, aged 18.

Kimi signed with Mercedes for the 2025 Formula One season. He replaced Lewis Hamilton and became teammates with George Russell. He was the first Italian driver in Formula One since 2021. Kimi was also the third-youngest driver in Formula One history, making his debut at 18 years old at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. He finished fourth in that race, becoming the second-youngest driver to score points.

Antonelli retired from his local Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with a throttle issue, one of four retirements in his mid-season.

In the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Kimi became the youngest driver to lead a race and the youngest to set a fastest lap. He achieved his first podium finish at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, coming in third place. This made him the third-youngest podium finisher in Formula One history.

Antonelli (pictured at the Italian Grand Prix) achieved three podiums and became the highest-scoring rookie in Formula One history.

Kimi continued to impress, securing another second-place finish at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix. He also earned a third podium at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. He finished his rookie season in seventh place with 150 points, becoming the highest-scoring rookie in Formula One history.

2026: Youngest Polesitter and First Win

Mercedes emerged as the leading constructor in 2026, as Antonelli completed their 1–2 finish in Australia.

Kimi remained with Mercedes for the 2026 season. Mercedes started the season strongly with new car regulations. At the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Kimi helped Mercedes achieve a one-two finish.

At the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi made history again. He became the youngest polesitter in Formula One history, beating the previous record by almost two years. He then went on to win the main race, becoming the second-youngest Grand Prix winner and the first Italian to win a Formula One race in two decades.

Other Racing Adventures

Antonelli won his debut sportscar race at the 2023 Italian GT3 Championship, driving the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo (same chassis pictured in 2022).

In May 2023, Kimi also tried sportscar racing. He competed in the Italian GT3 Championship for his father's team, AKM Motorsport. He won his very first race from pole position and finished third in the second race.

Other Activities

Kimi appeared in a small role in the sports drama film Italian Race (2016). In 2023, he co-founded a kart racing team with his father, where he helps coach young drivers. He is also the subject of a documentary film called The Seat (2025), which followed his journey to Formula One with Mercedes.

Kimi's Personal Life

Antonelli at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

Kimi chose the number 12 as his personal number in Formula One. He was inspired by his idol, the legendary driver Ayrton Senna. Kimi passed his driving test just six weeks before his Formula One debut. He continued studying online for his high school diploma during his rookie season.

Mercedes-AMG gave Kimi a special GT 63 S car. However, he cannot drive it in Italy for three years because its power is too high for new drivers according to national rules. Kimi's racing helmet is Savoy blue, with green, white, and red details, representing the national colours of Italy. He looks up to other Italian sports stars like Jannik Sinner and Valentino Rossi. Kimi supports his local sports teams, Bologna FC (football) and Virtus Bologna (basketball). He was also chosen as an ambassador for Italian sport by San Marino and was a torchbearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Awards and Honours

• Confartigianato Motori Pilota in Ascesa: 2024
• Autosprint Caschi d'Oro: 2022
• Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Oro: 2022
• Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Argento: 2023
• Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre: 2024
• FIA Karting Rookie of the Year: 2020

Racing Career Summary

^† As Antonelli was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
* Season still in progress.

Formula One Records

Kimi Antonelli holds these impressive Formula One records:

See also

In Spanish: Andrea Kimi Antonelli para niños