How Kimi Antonelli went from a garage-born talent to Mercedes’ championship leader
A childhood shaped by engines
Kimi Antonelli’s path to Formula 1 began inside his family’s racing world. His father, Marco, first recognised something exceptional when Kimi was 10 and allowed him to control a Lamborghini at Italy’s Adria circuit while sitting on his lap.
Marco managed the throttle and brakes while his son controlled the steering and gears. At the end of the straight, travelling at about 320km/h, Kimi handled the car’s oversteer so effectively that his father began to wonder whether he had found a future professional driver.
“Maybe he has something special,” Marco recalled thinking after watching video of the drive.
Talent that quickly became impossible to ignore
Kimi was immersed in motorsport from infancy, spending time in his parents’ garage and becoming fascinated by the sound and smell of racing engines. At around three years old, he repeatedly drove a simulator brought home by his father, insisting that Marco stay awake and help him operate it.
He first tried karting at five and immediately demonstrated an understanding of racing lines, braking points and car control. Although the Antonelli family could not afford to fund every stage of the route to Formula 1, Kimi’s speed and results opened new doors.
Mercedes noticed him at 11 after a season in which he was competing with less powerful equipment than his rivals. The manufacturer’s driver academy brought financial security and allowed the family to focus on developing his ability.
Mercedes saw the next step before anyone else
Antonelli dominated Formula 4 in 2022 and Formula Regional in 2023. His performances convinced Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff that he could eventually become the team’s successor to Lewis Hamilton.
When Hamilton decided to join Ferrari for 2025, Wolff contacted Marco Antonelli and proposed placing Kimi in Formula 1. The decision carried risk: Antonelli had not yet driven an F1 car. Mercedes responded with an extensive testing programme spanning more than 20 days in older cars at circuits around the world.
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said Antonelli’s ability to find speed quickly stood out. The teenager’s progression convinced the team that his junior record could translate to the highest level.
Now 19, Antonelli has turned that faith into a championship challenge in only his second F1 season. Known officially as Andrea Kimi Antonelli, he is universally called Kimi in Formula 1 and is bidding to become the sport’s youngest world champion.