With new F1 rules this 12 months, the Mercedes crew has emerged as a favorite after testing, with Kimi Antonelli as one of many two racers who will drive the Silver Arrows within the 2026 season.
Acknowledged for his abilities at an early age, Antonelli has risen via the ranks as a long-term Mercedes prospect from the age of 12. From a number of karting championships in Europe to open-wheel championship titles, Antonelli was promoted shortly to the F1 crew and has seen some success. Will 2026 be his breakthrough 12 months in F1?
1. From a racing household
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes throughout 2026 pre-season testing
Picture by: Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
12 months: 2006
Son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Italy.
2. Early success
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Years: 2014–2018
The place Antonelli went, he gained, capturing nationwide and worldwide kart races in Italy in addition to in Europe, placing him on the radar of a number of groups… and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
3. Mercedes Junior Staff signing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli contained in the Mercedes AMG F1 motorhome
Picture by: Franco Nugnes
12 months: 2018
Antonelli was signed to the Mercedes Junior Staff in 2018, together with his victory within the WSK Champions Cup simply certainly one of a number of headline outcomes from one other foundational 12 months in karting.
4. Karting champion
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
12 months: 2020
Solely six years in the past, Antonelli was in karts, dominating with wins within the WSK European Championship, Italian Championship, and Euro Collection, at 13 years outdated.
5. Extra karting success
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Junior Programme
Picture by: Mercedes-Benz
12 months: 2021
Following his European win the 12 months earlier than, Antonelli was in competition to change into the youngest-ever KZ world champion however completed properly out of the highest 10 and wasn’t capable of match the file set by Max Verstappen in 2013.
6. Transition to single-seaters
#3 Italy: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Method 4
Picture by: SRO
12 months: 2021-2022
Exhibiting super pace in his profession to date, Antonelli naturally graduated to single-seater racing, getting into Italian F4 with the Prema crew. His supporters didn’t have to attend lengthy to see outcomes: he scored factors on his debut weekend.
7. Italian F4 champion
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Picture by: Prema Powerteam
12 months: 2022
A 12 months later, Antonelli claimed the Italian F4 title in dominant vogue with 13 wins throughout the season. That’s not all: he contested a number of different sequence that 12 months, successful 45% of the races he entered and ending on the rostrum 64% of the time in Method 4 equipment.
8. Speedy rise via Method Regional
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Picture by: Method Regional Center East Championship
12 months: 2023
One 12 months, two championships: Antonelli gained the Method Regional European Championship in his rookie season, in addition to the Method Center East Championship, scoring a number of wins in dominant vogue.
9. Skipping Method 3
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Picture by: Prema Powerteam
12 months: 2024
With Toto Wolff’s continued backing, Antonelli went straight to Method 2, as Oliver Bearman’s team-mate. Antonelli scored some extent on his debut and, after a couple of difficult races, took his first win at Silverstone in blended circumstances.
10. Method 2 strain
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Picture by: Prema Powerteam
12 months: 2024
Due to his profession’s upward trajectory, Antonelli’s rookie F2 season put the younger Italian underneath intense scrutiny. Actually, Mercedes’ large guess was simply beginning to repay: two wins and three podiums within the 2024 Method 2 season meant Antonelli’s pace towards extra skilled drivers and potential for enchancment may now not be denied.
11. Mercedes F1 take a look at appearances
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15 after Free Follow incident
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
12 months: 2024
Antonelli already had an F1 take a look at outing with Mercedes underneath his belt by April 2024, and the crew had him driving the W15 in a number of take a look at classes.
12. Tremendous Licence eligibility
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Staff Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG
Picture by: Mercedes-Benz
12 months: 2024
The timing of Antonelli’s development into F1 was carefully aligned together with his 18th birthday, because the minimal age to carry an FIA superlicence, a requirement for racing on this planet championship.
13. Confirmed as Mercedes F1 driver
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
12 months: 2025
For the ultimate 12 months of the trendy ground-effect period, Antonelli was introduced as Mercedes Method 1 race driver, changing Lewis Hamilton and partnering with George Russell.
Outcomes converse for themselves, with Antonelli changing into the second-youngest factors scorer in F1 historical past.
14. Growing expertise
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Steven Tee / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
12 months: 2026
As one of many youngest drivers in Mercedes’ fashionable F1 historical past, in addition to one who hasn’t but reached his full potential, Antonelli’s profession is properly positioned to take one other step ahead this 12 months.
15. Defining F1’s new era
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Photographs
12 months: 2026
Together with Russell, Antonelli is central to post-Hamilton Mercedes. The 2026 guidelines reset may parallel Mercedes’ final interval of dominance, one sparked simply after a serious guidelines shake-up.
Antonelli continues to be in search of his first Method 1 win – may 2026 be the 12 months he reaches the highest step of the rostrum?
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