With new F1 laws this 12 months, the group has emerged as a favorite after testing, with 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 by means of 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 rapidly to the F1 group and has seen some success. Will 2026 be his breakthrough 12 months in F1?
Commercial
1. From a racing familyAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes throughout 2026 pre-season testing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes throughout 2026 pre-season testing
Yr: 2006
Son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli, was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Italy.
2. Early successAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Years: 2014–2018
The place Antonelli went, he received, 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 signingAndrea Kimi Antonelli contained in the Mercedes AMG F1 motorhome
Andrea Kimi Antonelli contained in the Mercedes AMG F1 motorhome
Yr: 2018
Commercial
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
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Yr: 2020
Solely six years in the past, Antonelli was in karts, dominating with wins within the WSK European Championship, Italian Championship, and Euro Sequence, at 13 years outdated.
5. Extra karting successAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Junior Programme
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Junior Programme
Yr: 2021
Commercial
Following his European win the 12 months earlier than, Antonelli was in rivalry to grow to be the youngest-ever KZ world champion however completed nicely out of the highest 10 and wasn’t capable of match the report set by in 2013.
6. Transition to single-seaters#3 Italy: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Components 4
#3 Italy: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Components 4
Yr: 2021-2022
Displaying super pace in his profession up to now, Antonelli naturally graduated to single-seater racing, getting into Italian F4 with the Prema group. His supporters didn’t have to attend lengthy to see outcomes: he scored factors on his debut weekend.
Commercial
7. Italian F4 championAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Yr: 2022
A 12 months later, Antonelli claimed the Italian F4 title in dominant trend with 13 wins throughout the season. That’s not all: he contested a number of different collection that 12 months, profitable 45% of the races he entered and ending on the rostrum 64% of the time in Components 4 equipment.
8. Fast rise by means of Components RegionalAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Yr: 2023
One 12 months, two championships: Antonelli received the Components Regional European Championship in his rookie season, in addition to the Components Center East Championship, scoring a number of wins in dominant trend.
Commercial
9. Skipping Components 3Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Yr: 2024
With Toto Wolff’s continued backing, Antonelli went straight to Components 2, as Oliver Bearman’s team-mate. Antonelli scored some extent on his debut and, after a number of difficult races, took his first win at Silverstone in blended situations.
10. Components 2 pressureAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing
Yr: 2024
Due to his profession’s upward trajectory, Antonelli’s rookie F2 season put the younger Italian below intense scrutiny. Actually, Mercedes’ huge guess was simply beginning to repay: two wins and three podiums within the 2024 Components 2 season meant Antonelli’s pace towards extra skilled drivers and potential for enchancment might now not be denied.
Commercial
11. Mercedes F1 take a look at appearancesAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15 after Free Follow incident
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15 after Free Follow incident
Yr: 2024
Antonelli already had an F1 take a look at outing with Mercedes below his belt by April 2024, and the group had him driving the W15 in a number of take a look at classes.
12. Tremendous Licence eligibilityAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Staff Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Staff Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG
Yr: 2024
The timing of Antonelli’s development into F1 was intently aligned together with his 18th birthday, because the minimal age to carry an FIA superlicence, a requirement for racing on this planet championship.
Commercial
13. Confirmed as Mercedes F1 driverAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Yr: 2025
For the ultimate 12 months of the fashionable ground-effect period, Antonelli was introduced as Mercedes Components 1 race driver, changing and partnering with .
Outcomes converse for themselves, with Antonelli turning into the second-youngest factors scorer in F1 historical past.
14. Growing talentAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Yr: 2026
As one of many youngest drivers in Mercedes’ trendy F1 historical past, in addition to one who hasn’t but reached his full potential, Antonelli’s profession is nicely positioned to take one other step ahead this 12 months.
Commercial
15. Defining F1’s new generationAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Yr: 2026
Together with Russell, Antonelli is central to post-Hamilton Mercedes. The 2026 guidelines reset might parallel Mercedes’ final interval of dominance, one sparked simply after a serious guidelines shake-up.
Antonelli continues to be on the lookout for his first Components 1 win – might 2026 be the 12 months he reaches the highest step of the rostrum?
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
