Kimi Antonelli is an Italian Formula 1 driver for Mercedes who became the youngest world champion in the sport’s history in 2026, at just 20 years old.
| Full Name | Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
| Age | 20 years |
| Date of Birth | August 25, 2006 |
| Place of Birth | Bologna, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Formula 1 Driver |
| Team | Mercedes |
| Car Number | 12 |
| Father | Marco Antonelli |
| Mother | Veronica Pomaro |
| Known For | Youngest Formula 1 World Champion |
| Net Worth | $18 million |
Table of Contents
Kimi Antonelli Biography
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on August 25, 2006, in Bologna, Italy, and grew up in nearby Casalecchio di Reno. Motorsport runs in his family. His father, Marco Antonelli, is a former sportscar driver who owns the San Marino-based team AKM Motorsport, and his mother, Veronica Pomaro, has worked in motorsport since 1997.
Many fans assume he was named after 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen, but Antonelli has said that is not the case. The name Kimi was suggested to his father by former racer Enrico Bertaggia, who wanted a foreign-sounding name to go with Andrea.
Educational Background
Antonelli studied international relations and marketing at ITCS Gaetano Salvemini in Casalecchio di Reno. He kept up his studies even after reaching Formula 1, completing his final school exams online during the first half of his 2025 rookie season.
Karting Career
Antonelli started karting as a young child and quickly became one of the most successful karters of his generation. Mercedes noticed his talent early and signed him to its junior programme in 2018, when he was just 11. The deal was officially announced in April 2019.
His major karting titles include:
- 2019: Italian Championship (OK-Junior), plus the WSK Super Master Series, WSK Euro Series and other international titles
- 2020: CIK-FIA European Championship (OK), making him the youngest senior European champion ever
- 2021: CIK-FIA European Championship (OK), successfully defending his title
Junior Single-Seater Career
Antonelli moved into single-seater racing with Prema in 2021 and dominated almost every series he entered:
- 2022: Won both the Italian F4 Championship (13 wins) and the ADAC F4 Championship (9 wins), and took gold for Italy at the FIA Motorsport Games
- 2023: Won the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship
- 2024: Skipped Formula 3 and went straight to Formula 2, finishing sixth with two wins
Formula 1 Debut with Mercedes
When Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes for Ferrari, the team chose Antonelli as his replacement for 2025, partnering him with George Russell. He made his debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, starting 16th and finishing an impressive fourth.
He went on to score his first podium with third place in Canada, followed by third in Las Vegas and second in São Paulo. He finished his rookie season seventh in the championship with 150 points.
2026 World Championship Season
Antonelli’s second season was historic. After finishing second in the opening race in Australia despite a heavy practice crash, he took his first pole position and first Grand Prix win in China. A win in Japan then made him the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history.
He followed up with victories in Miami, Monaco, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United States, among others. His win at Monza came from 19th on the grid after an engine penalty, delighting the home crowd. He also had difficult weekends, including a mechanical retirement in Barcelona and a 16th-place finish at Silverstone.
On November 1, 2026, Antonelli finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which was enough to clinch the world title with races to spare. At 20 years and 68 days old, he broke Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest champion and became Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. After the race, he was lifted onto the podium by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
“I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened,” he said after the race.
Records
Antonelli has set several Formula 1 records, including:
- Youngest Formula 1 world champion
- Youngest driver to take pole position
- Youngest driver to win from pole
- Youngest driver to lead the world championship
- Youngest driver to score a grand chelem (pole, win, fastest lap and leading every lap), at Monaco
- First driver to convert his first three pole positions into wins
- First world champion born in the 2000s
Personal Life
Antonelli races with the number 12, which he chose in honour of Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna. He has said he will keep the number rather than switch to number 1 for his title defence. He remains with Mercedes for 2027 alongside George Russell.
Net Worth
Kimi Antonelli has an estimated net worth of $18 million. His income comes from his Mercedes Formula 1 contract, sponsorship deals and endorsements, and his earnings are expected to rise sharply after winning the world title.
Also Read: Max Verstappen Biography, Age, Career, Family, Net Worth | Lewis Hamilton Biography, Age, Career, Awards, Net Worth
Social Media Handles
Fans can follow Kimi Antonelli on his official page:
- Instagram: @kimi.antonelli
