Andrea Antonelli
Born 2006 · Age 19
Italian racing driver from Bologna; Mercedes works Formula One driver (joined F1 in 2025). Multiple karting and junior formula champion; Mercedes Junior Team member since 2019.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Bologna, Italy
Andrea Kimi Antonelli born in Bologna; son of sportscar driver and team owner Marco Antonelli.
Started kart racing; scouted at ACI summer camp
Attended Automobile Club d'Italia summer camp and was scouted by Giovanni Minardi, signing to Minardi Management; began junior karting career.
Won Trofeo Easykart Italia (60cc) and Easykart International Grand Final
Early international karting success: Trofeo Easykart Italia (60 cc class) champion and Easykart International Grand Final winner.
Cameo role in film 'Italian Race' (2016)
Appeared as Matteo in the sports drama film 'Italian Race', which later won awards at Nastro d'Argento.
Guest entry in WSK Final Cup (60 Mini)
Placed 31st in WSK Final Cup in 60 Mini class as a youngster gaining international experience.
Top-three finishes in Italian Cup & Trofeo delle Industrie
Strong results in major Italian karting events, including podiums at the Italian Cup and Trofeo delle Industrie.
First Italian Championship race win (Battipaglia)
Won the third round of the Italian Championship at Battipaglia in karting.
Signed to Mercedes Junior programme (early move)
Signed with Mercedes junior development (signing occurred in early 2018; formal announcement later). Began receiving support and visibility from a works programme.
Won WSK Champions Cup, South Garda Winter Cup, ROK Cup Int. Final (Mini)
Multiple international karting victories in the Mini category, consolidating reputation.
Dominant OK-Junior season: multiple WSK titles
Won WSK Super Master Series, WSK Euro Series, WSK Open Cup and WSK Final Cup in OK-Junior; runner-up in CIK-FIA European Championship, 5th in World Championship.
Mercedes Junior Team formal announcement (April 2019)
Mercedes announced Antonelli as part of their Junior Team (formal public announcement in April 2019).
Named CIK-FIA Karting Rookie of the Year
Awarded FIA Karting Rookie of the Year by the CIK-FIA for his performances in 2020.
FIA Karting Rookie of the Year
Awarded by the CIK-FIA in recognition of his karting performances in 2020.
Stepped up to senior OK class; won European Championship
On senior direct-drive OK debut, won the FIA Karting European Championship and the WSK Euro Series and Italian Championship for Kart Republic.
Sustained serious injury at CIK-FIA World Championship (Portimão)
Collided with a stationary kart in wet conditions and suffered a broken left tibia and metatarsus; forced retirement from the final.
Moved to KZ gearbox class; defended OK European title
Graduated to KZ (gearbox) class and successfully defended his CIK-FIA European Championship title in OK; attempted to be youngest KZ world champion but finished 15th.
Breakout Monza weekend in Italian F4 (multiple podiums)
Scored strong results at the season finale in Monza, including a second in race one and additional podiums, finishing 10th overall despite missing most of the season.
Car racing debut: Italian F4 at Red Bull Ring
Made junior single-seater debut with Prema in the Italian F4 Championship three weeks after turning 15; highest-placed rookie in his first race.
ADAC Formula 4 Championship title with Prema
Won the 2022 ADAC F4 Championship, clinching the title with one race to spare after multiple wins and dominant performances.
FIA Motorsport Games – Gold medal (Formula 4 Cup)
Represented Team Italy at Paul Ricard; won both qualifying and the main race despite driving with a broken left wrist and secured Italy the top spot on the medals table.
€10,000 grant from KC Motorgroup
Received a €10,000 grant from KC Motorgroup as support for future campaigning after FIA Motorsport Games success.
Autosprint Caschi d'Oro
Received the 'Autosprint Golden Helmet' recognition in 2022.
Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Oro
Awarded the ACI 'Golden Steering Wheel' honour in 2022.
Contested F4 UAE rounds; replaced Rafael Câmara in season opener
Competed selectively in F4 UAE; replaced Rafael Câmara at season opener after Câmara tested positive for COVID-19; secured multiple podiums and contested two of five rounds.
Italian F4 Championship title with Prema
Won the 2022 Italian F4 Championship with Prema, clinching the title at Mugello and finishing the season with a then-record 13 victories.
Recognized as best junior driver in 2023
Formula Scout ranked Antonelli the best driver in junior formulae across 2023 following his two regional championships and dominant performances.
Co-founded AKM Motorsport by Kart Republic (with father)
Co-founded kart racing team AKM Motorsport by Kart Republic; serves as driver coach and chassis tester.
Formula Regional Middle East Champion (Mumbai Falcons)
Won the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Mumbai Falcons, clinching the title with one race to spare; season totals: 3 wins and 7 podiums.
Formula Regional European Champion (Prema)
Won the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship with Prema, claiming five wins, four poles and 11 podiums; clinched the title at Zandvoort and was voted driver of the season by team principals.
Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Argento
Received the ACI 'Silver Steering Wheel' in 2023.
Sportscar debut — Italian GT3 Championship win
Debuted in sportscar racing for AKM Motorsport in the Italian GT3 Championship driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo; won the first race from pole and finished third in race two.
Began public relationship with kart racer Eliška Bábíčková
Relationship publicly noted from October 2023; partner is a Czech kart racer and sister to former W Series competitor Tereza Bábíčková.
Confartigianato Motori 'Pilota in Ascesa' (Driver on the Rise)
Named 'Pilota in Ascesa' by Confartigianato Motori in 2024 acknowledging his rapid ascent.
Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre
Awarded for his Spa overtake in FIA Formula 2 (recognition given in 2024).
Daring overtake at Spa (Eau Rouge) recognized
Award-winning overtake on Franco Colapinto at Spa-Francorchamps; later received the Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre 2024.
Promoted directly to FIA Formula 2 with Prema
Bypassed FIA Formula 3 to move directly to FIA F2 with Prema for the 2024 season alongside Oliver Bearman.
Further private tests in Mercedes W13 (Imola, Silverstone, Barcelona, Spa)
Completed a programme of private tests in Mercedes W13 machinery at several European circuits to build experience in older F1 cars.
Two-day test in Mercedes W12 at Red Bull Ring (17–18 April 2024)
Completed first two-day test with Mercedes driving the W12 at the Red Bull Ring as part of their young driver programme.
First FIA F2 Feature win — Hungaroring (Budapest)
Converted a seventh-grid start into his first F2 feature race victory at the Hungaroring (Budapest), moving up in the drivers' standings.
Maiden FIA F2 victory — Silverstone Sprint
Qualified tenth but started on pole for the rain-affected sprint at Silverstone and took his first F2 win after a red-flag affected race.
Signed to Mercedes works Formula 1 team for 2025
Mercedes-AMG Petronas confirmed Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for the 2025 season on a one-year contract; he remained contracted through the 2025 season at least.
FP1 debut at 2024 Italian Grand Prix (Monza) and heavy crash
Made first official Formula 1 free-practice appearance in George Russell's W15 at Monza and crashed heavily into the tyre barrier (reported 52 g impact); session ended prematurely.
Free practice session at Mexico City Grand Prix (FP1)
Participated in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finished twelfth in the session after sustaining floor damage from debris.
Finished FIA Formula 2 season 6th overall (113 points)
Completed 2024 FIA Formula 2 season with Prema, scoring 113 points, two victories and three podiums; withdrew from final round at Yas Marina due to illness.
Post-season test at Yas Marina — 62 laps, 5th-fastest
Completed 62 laps in the post-season test at Yas Marina, setting the fifth-fastest overall time in a multi-driver session.
Subject of Netflix documentary 'The Seat' (2025)
Documentary directed by Kyle Thrash covering Antonelli's promotion to Mercedes for 2025, set for distribution on Netflix.
Received Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S as a gift
Gifted a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S by Mercedes-AMG; due to Italian licensing rules for powerful cars he cannot legally drive it in Italy for three years as a new driver.
Passed driving test (six weeks before F1 debut)
Reported to have passed his road driving test approximately six weeks prior to his Formula 1 race debut.
Formula 1 debut — 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Debuted for Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix aged 18 (third-youngest F1 starter, 18 years and 203 days); qualified 16th and climbed to 4th in the rain-affected race, becoming second-youngest points scorer.
Youngest driver to lead a lap and set fastest lap (Japanese GP)
Became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead a lap and to set the fastest lap at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at 18 years, 225 days.
Maiden Formula 1 podium — Canadian Grand Prix (P3)
Finished third at the Canadian Grand Prix in his rookie F1 season, holding off the championship leader and becoming the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history.
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