Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, is the son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli. His nickname “Kimi” was given to him by a family friend, with no direct link to Finnish world champion Kimi Räikkönen. He began karting at the age of seven and won the European CIK-FIA Karting Championship back to back in 2020 and 2021, among other titles, before joining the Mercedes Junior Programme in 2019 at the age of twelve.

After titles in Italian and ADAC Formula 4 (2022) and Formula Regional (2023), Antonelli skipped Formula 3 at Mercedes’ request and moved straight into Formula 2. When Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari shortly afterwards, it became clear during Antonelli’s rookie F2 season that he would take over Hamilton’s seat alongside George Russell at Mercedes in 2025.

In his debut season in 2025, a pole position for the Miami Sprint made him the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history in any race format, and he took his first podium at the Canadian Grand Prix. He began the 2026 season on a historic run: after taking pole and victory in China, winning in Japan to become the youngest championship leader of all time, and further wins in Miami and Canada, he became the first driver ever to win his first four Formula 1 races in unbroken succession, before adding a fifth consecutive win in Monaco as the youngest winner ever of the race in the Principality.

He chose car number 12 in tribute to his great idol Ayrton Senna. Away from racing, Antonelli has a younger sister and studied International Relations and Marketing alongside his driving career.