Kimi Antonelli: « I have complete trust in the team »

At just 18 years old, Kimi Antonelli is set to make history in Formula 1. The young Italian driver, promoted to Mercedes alongside George Russell, will be one of the youngest rookies in the history of the sport. With an early passion, the influence of Senna, and clear ambition, here is a portrait of an extraordinary talent.

During his first visit to the Brackley factory, Antonelli opened up about his unusual journey. His love for racing didn’t start yesterday. At the age of seven, he made a clandestine entry into the Hockenheim paddock thanks to a trick devised by his father, Marco, who was then a driver in the Porsche Supercup: “My father hid me in a stack of tires, then transported me in a cart. We put an umbrella over it to hide me even more.” An anecdote that reveals his early determination to be part of the F1 world.

An inspiring legacy

Although born in 2006, Antonelli has developed unwavering admiration for Ayrton Senna, whose exploits he discovered through archival videos: « When I was a child, I watched all the DVDs of the seasons from the 1980s and 2000s, and I remember seeing Senna in one of them, and it left an impression on me. »

This influence is reflected in his choice of the number 12, the one Senna wore during his years at Lotus and during his first world championship in 1988. A lucky number for Antonelli, which accompanied him during his triumphs in German and Italian F4 in 2022, before winning the titles in the European and Middle East Regional Formula the following year.

The rapid learning of a future great

His preparation for the 2025 season has been intense, alternating between rigorous training camps in Lanzarote and cherished moments with family: « I had a great time with my family, which is important to me because I won’t be seeing them often enough once the season starts. »

Under the benevolent wing of Toto Wolff, who has been following him since 2018, Antonelli lands in an ideal environment at Mercedes. While he will have to face the pressure inherent in such a seat, he shows gratitude towards his teammates, George Russell and Valtteri Bottas: « I have complete confidence in the team. This chance to race doesn’t come every day. I feel privileged. I am very happy to team up with George. He has shown me what he can do and I can learn a lot alongside him. Then there’s Valtteri and his experience. I can’t wait to learn from both of them. They can push me far. »

On the track, Antonelli already displays an incisive and thoughtful style: « When I’m on the track, I’m totally focused. I am determined and passionate about this sport and what I do. When I drive, I try to do it by instinct. » A mix of intensity and control that could make him one of the most promising rookies in recent years.

A future to write

Compared to Max Verstappen even before his first Grand Prix, Antonelli refuses to be carried away by expectations. His ambition, fueled by the legacy of Senna, is clear: to be in it for the long haul and carve out his own path. “He is my idol for what he represented on the track but also off the track. An incredible driver, but also a wonderful person. That inspired me, and achieving even a small fraction of what he accomplished in my career would be amazing.”

At the dawn of his debut in Formula 1, Kimi Antonelli already seems ready to take on the challenge. With a meteoric rise and impressive maturity, the Italian has all the assets to become a future star of the paddock.