Pre-F1:
Kimi Antonelli is a 19- year old Italian Formula One driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Coming from a motorsports family, he won several international titles in his early years. He then went on to sign with the Mercedes Junior team in 2018, winning the WSK Cup and several more major titles in karting in the years that followed. In 2021, Antonelli had the chance to become the youngest ever KZ World Champion, but he did not finish in the top ten and was unable to beat the record set by Max Verstappen in 2013. In 2022, Antonelli had the chance to race in F4 with the Prema team, scoring points on his debut weekend. He was later crowned the Italian F4 champion. In 2023, he won the Formula Regional European Championships and the Formula Middle East Championships. Advancing quickly through the ranks, he skipped F3 and moved straight up to F2 with the help of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. He scored points in his first race and took his first win at Silverstone. Antonelli continued to rise, showing his immense talent and potential. In 2024, Mercedes allowed him to drive in a Formula 1 test session where he wrecked. But this didn’t take away Wolff’s belief in him. After his 18th birthday( 18 is the minimum age for F1), Mercedes made the final decision and signed him for their 2025 team as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
2025 F1 season:
In the Australian Grand Prix (first race of the season), Antonelli placed 4th, becoming the second-youngest points scorer in F1 history after Max Verstappen. He continued to place in the top 10 consistently and achieved his first podium at the Canadian Grand Prix. At the Canadian Grand Prix, he said, “Of course, seeing what Max has done over the years, especially in his rookie years, was quite astonishing. So definitely he’s a model who I get inspired by.” Taking back-to-back podiums, he achieved his first 2nd-place at the Brazilian Grand Prix, beating 4-time world champion Max Verstappen, and later took 3rd place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He ended his season at the Abu-Dhabi Grand Prix (last race of the season) taking a coveted 7th place overall in the Drivers’ World Championships.
2026 F1 season:
Antonelli re-signed his contract with Mercedes for 2026. In the months leading up to the season, F1 testing took place, and the Mercedes car was deemed one of the fastest cars on the grid. This was proven in the first race of the season, when Antonelli took 2nd, and his teammate George Russell took 1st. With growing confidence from the Australian Grand Prix results, Antonelli took pole position in the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest pole winner, ahead of Max Verstappen. With momentum high, he achieved his first win, becoming the first Italian to win a race in 20 years and becoming the second-youngest race winner after Max Verstappen. After winning, he said, “I’m about to cry, to be honest. Thank you to my team, who helped me to achieve this dream! His outstanding results at the beginning of this season put Antonelli 2nd in the Drivers’ World Championship standings, with his teammate in 1st so far.
I don’t want to jinx it, but if he keeps up this level of driving and mindset, he has the potential to become the youngest world champion in F1 history. If he continues this success in the years to come, he will most likely be known as “the next Max Verstappen.”
Source: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/kimi-antonellis-road-to-f1-2026-in-pictures/10799757/
