Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Born 2006 · Age 20
Italian racing driver from Bologna. Rapidly progressed through karting and junior formulae, a Mercedes Junior Team member since 2018/2019, Formula 2 race-winner (2024) and Mercedes Formula One driver from 2025.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Andrea Kimi Antonelli and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Bologna, Italy
Andrea Kimi Antonelli born to Marco and Veronica Antonelli in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna.
Started karting and attended ACI summer camp
Began kart racing at age seven and attended an Automobile Club d'Italia summer camp that led to being scouted.
Scouted and signed to Minardi Management
Scouted by Giovanni Minardi after ACI camp and signed to Minardi Management.
Won Trofeo Easykart Italia and Easykart International Grand Final
Victories in Trofeo Easykart Italia (60 cc) and Easykart International Grand Final (from 22nd on the grid).
Top-three finishes in Italian Cup and Trofeo delle Industrie
Achieved top-three results in major national junior karting events.
Cameo role in film 'Italian Race' (2016)
Appeared as Matteo in the sports drama film which later won Nastro d'Argento awards.
Won Italian Championship round at Battipaglia
Won the third round of the Italian Championship at Battipaglia.
Signed to Mercedes Junior Programme (early 2018)
Joined the Mercedes Junior Team (signing early 2018; later formally announced), beginning factory junior support.
Won WSK Champions Cup, South Garda Winter Cup and ROK Cup Int. Final (Mini class)
Multiple top karting titles in the Mini category during 2018.
Success in OK‑Junior: multiple WSK titles and Euro runner-up
Won South Garda Winter Cup, WSK Super Master Series, WSK Euro Series, WSK Open Cup and WSK Final Cup; 2nd in CIK-FIA European Championship and 5th in World Championship.
Formal Mercedes Junior Team announcement (April 2019)
Mercedes formally announced Antonelli as a member of their Junior Team (signing dated to earlier in 2018).
Step up to senior OK class and European Champion (2020)
Won the CIK-FIA European Championship on senior debut, plus WSK Euro Series and Italian Championship; suffered serious crash at Portimão (broken left tibia and metatarsus).
Named FIA Karting Rookie of the Year
Awarded FIA Karting Rookie of the Year by CIK-FIA for 2020 performances.
Major injury at Portimão (broken left tibia and metatarsus)
Sustained a significant injury in a wet‑weather karting crash that required rehabilitation and impacted his 2020 World Championship run.
Named FIA Karting Rookie of the Year
Official recognition from CIK-FIA for outstanding rookie karting performances in 2020.
Moved to KZ gearbox class and defended European OK title
Advanced to KZ gearbox class (aiming to be youngest KZ champion) and successfully defended OK European Championship; debuted in Italian F4 with Prema at Red Bull Ring.
Italian F4 debut with Prema
Made junior single-seater debut with PREMA at the Red Bull Ring, finishing highest-placed rookie in first race.
Contested F4 UAE Championship rounds (2022)
Competed selectively in F4 UAE, took pole at non-championship Trophy Round and finished third in that event; contested limited rounds overall.
Won Italian F4 Championship with record wins
Dominated Italian F4 with Prema, securing a then‑record 13 victories and clinching the title.
Won ADAC Formula 4 Championship
In parallel with Italian F4, won the ADAC F4 title with PREMA, including multiple clean‑sweep weekends.
Gold medal at FIA Motorsport Games (Formula 4 Cup)
Represented Team Italy, won both qualifying and main races despite driving with a broken left wrist; awarded a €10,000 grant from KC Motorgroup.
Finished F4 career with 26 wins
Graduated from Formula 4 with 26 wins, 24 poles and 37 podiums in 57 appearances, becoming the second-most successful driver in F4 history.
Received €10,000 grant from KC Motorgroup
Awarded a €10,000 grant to support his 2023 racing programmes after winning at the FIA Motorsport Games.
Autosprint Caschi d'Oro (Golden Helmet) award
Recipient of the Autosprint Caschi d'Oro in 2022 for his outstanding performances.
Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Oro
Received ACI Volante d'Oro award (2022).
Contest and win Formula Regional Middle East Championship
Raced with Mumbai Falcons in FRME and secured the title with one round to spare, taking multiple wins and podiums.
Won Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) with Prema
Rookie FRECA champion (2023) with five wins, 11 podiums, four poles — clinched title decisively and was voted driver of the season by team principals.
Co‑founded AKM Motorsport by Kart Republic
Co-founded the kart racing team in partnership with Kart Republic and his father, serving as driver coach and chassis tester.
Automobile Club d'Italia Volante d'Argento
Awarded ACI Volante d'Argento in 2023.
Sportscar debut: won Italian GT3 race for AKM Motorsport (May 2023)
Debuted in Italian GT3 Championship with his father's AKM Motorsport in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo: won race one from pole and finished third in race two.
Public relationship milestone: dating Eliška Bábíčková
Began a relationship with Czech kart racer Eliška Bábíčková (October 2023 announcement).
Private tests with Mercedes (W13) at Imola, Silverstone, Barcelona, Spa
Completed several private test days in Mercedes cars ahead of potential F1 promotion.
Joined PREMA for FIA Formula 2 (2024 season)
Bypassed FIA F3 and stepped directly into FIA Formula 2 with PREMA for the 2024 season.
Maiden FIA F2 victory — Sprint at Silverstone (wet)
Qualified tenth but started on pole for the rain-affected sprint and secured his first F2 win after multiple safety car periods and a red flag.
First F2 Feature race win at Hungaroring (Budapest)
Took first feature race victory (starting seventh) at the Hungaroring, boosting his F2 championship position.
Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre
Awarded Dallara Award for Best Overtaking Manoeuvre (2024) for a notable move at Spa.
Confartigianato Motori 'Pilota in Ascesa' (Driver on the Rise)
Recognized as a rising driver by Confartigianato Motori in 2024.
First two-day test in Mercedes W12 at Red Bull Ring
Conducted first official two-day test for Mercedes (W12) at the Red Bull Ring (17–18 April 2024).
Announced as Mercedes Formula One driver for 2025 (replacing Lewis Hamilton)
Mercedes confirmed Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for the 2025 season; one-year contract announced (later extended through 2026).
F1 free practice debut at 2024 Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
Took part in FP1 for Mercedes in Monza, set fastest lap early in session before a high-speed crash into the tyre barrier (reported 52 g impact).
FP1 appearance at Mexico City Grand Prix
Featured in an FP1 session in Mexico City, ended session early after floor damage from debris.
Post‑season test at Yas Marina for Mercedes (62 laps, P5)
Featured alongside George Russell in Mercedes' post-season test at Yas Marina; set the fifth-fastest time overall (62 laps).
Subject of documentary 'The Seat' (Netflix)
Featured in a documentary directed by Kyle Thrash documenting his promotion to Mercedes and rookie season.
Contract extension / confirmed to remain at Mercedes through 2026
Contractual confirmation that Antonelli is contracted at Mercedes until at least end of 2026 season.
Selected F1 racing number 12
Chose number 12 for Formula One, inspired by idol Ayrton Senna.
Passed road driving test
Passed his driving test about six weeks before his Formula One debut.
Formula One debut — 2025 Australian Grand Prix (3rd-youngest starter)
Debuted for Mercedes in Melbourne, becoming the third-youngest F1 starter (18y 203d), qualified 16th (floor damage) and finished fourth in a rain-affected race.
Top-six finishes in China
Finished seventh in sprint and then elevated to sixth in the Grand Prix after disqualifications for Ferrari drivers; sustained floor damage earlier in race weekend.
Sprint pole in Miami Grand Prix (Sprint)
Secured pole for the Miami sprint — youngest driver to record P1 in any F1 qualifying format (sprint pole).
Maiden Formula One podium — Canadian Grand Prix (P3)
Scored his first F1 podium at the Canadian GP, becoming the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history.
Youngest driver to lead a lap and set fastest lap in F1 (Japanese GP)
At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix became the youngest driver to lead a lap and to set a fastest lap in F1 history.
Podium and front-row start at São Paulo Grand Prix (P2)
Started on the front row and finished second in the São Paulo Grand Prix; also P2 in the sprint — major late-season result.
Las Vegas podium (after DSQ of others)
Finished on the podium in Las Vegas following disqualifications of rivals; another high-profile result late in rookie season.
Finished rookie F1 season: 7th (150 points) — highest-scoring rookie record
Completed 2025 F1 season with three podiums and 150 points — cited as most points in a first championship season (modern scoring context).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Andrea Kimi Antonelli and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Ryan Kaji
Born 2011 · Age 15
American child YouTuber and entrepreneur, creator/star of the multi-channel franchise Ryan's World (formerly Ryan ToysReview). Expanded into toys, TV, games, apps, and a feature film.
UTSA Roadrunners
Born 2010 · Age 16
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners football program, established with a practice season in 2010 and competing since 2011. The program moved from FCS Independent to WAC (2012) to Conference USA (2013) and became a full FBS member in 2014. This timeline captures program milestones, season highlights, records, awards and major personnel events through the 2020 season.
Ryan Williams
Born 2007 · Age 19
American college football wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Cooper Flagg
Born 2006 · Age 20
American basketball player from Newport, Maine. Starred at Nokomis and Montverde Academy, reclassified to 2024 class, played one season at Duke (2024–25) earning consensus national player of the year honors, and was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Macklin Celebrini
Born 2006 · Age 20
Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the San Jose Sharks. Starred at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, led the USHL, won numerous junior and college awards, won the Hobey Baker as a 17-year-old freshman at Boston University, was selected 1st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and debuted with the Sharks in 2024.
Andrea Antonelli
Born 2006 · Age 20
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.