Who is Kimi Antonelli? That’s a question every F1 fan is asking at the moment. He seems to have come out of nowhere! His rise feels both immediate and inevitable, shaped by results on track and growing influence below it.
After Mercedes made the bold decision to sign him as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for 2025, many didn’t know what was in the making for George Russell’s new teammate. Just three years ago, Antonelli was winning in karting, and now he is the replacement for F1’s most successful driver.
Kimi Antonelli Profile Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
| Date of Birth | 25 August 2006 |
| Age (2026) | 19 |
| Place of Birth | Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Father | Marco Antonelli (sportscar racing driver & team owner) |
| Current Team | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team |
| Car Number | 12 |
| F1 Debut | 2025 Australian Grand Prix |
| First Win | 2026 Chinese Grand Prix |
| Latest Win | 2026 Miami Grand Prix |
| Career Stats (as of May 2026) | 36 Grand Prix entries, 3 wins, 8 podiums, 4 pole positions, 250 career points |
| 2025 Season | Finished 7th with 150 points |
| 2026 Season (ongoing) | 1st in standings, 3 wins, 4 podiums, 93 points in first 4 races |
| Junior Career Highlights | – Karting European Champion (2020, 2021) – Italian F4 & ADAC F4 Champion (2022) – Formula Regional European & Middle East Champion (2023) – FIA Formula 2 race winner (2024) |
| Mercedes Junior Programme | Joined in 2019 |
| Notable Records | – Youngest-ever polesitter (Chinese GP 2026) – Youngest F1 fastest lap setter (2025 Canadian GP) – Youngest F1 championship leader (Japanese GP 2026) |
| Contract | Signed with Mercedes until at least end of 2026 |
Early Life & Education
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006 and was raised in Bologna, Italy. It is easy to wonder if he was named after Kimi Raikkonnen. No. A friend of the Antonelli family gave the Italian the name Kimi because it blended perfectly with his other names.
Some people think that racing is something Kimi was born to do and that he was always going to be a Formula One driver. That is probably true to an extent. Kimi is the son of Marco Antonelli, who’s a very well known racing driver. However his father does not drive in Formula One he drives sports cars instead.
Kimi and his dad started a racing team called AKM Motorsport in 2023. This team is based in San Marino. Kimi works with the team. He helps the other drivers by coaching them. He also tests the cars to make sure they are good to drive.
Kimi started driving karts when he was 7 years old. He was very good, at it. People started to notice him. He won some European Karting titles in 2020 and 2021. Kimi went to school at ITCS Gaetano Salvemini. He studied relations and marketing. On the weekends when he was racing Kimi would take the time to learn English. He was able to balance going to school with his racing career, which’s really impressive.
Kimi Antonelli’s Net Worth in 2026
Kimi Antonellis net worth in 2026 is estimated to be around $3 million to $5 million.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | $3M – $5M (most reliable range) |
| High Estimates | $11M – $15M (Celebrity Net Worth, some media outlets) |
| Base Salary (Mercedes) | ~$2M per season |
| Performance Bonuses | Up to $12M annually |
| Total On-Track Earnings (2026) | ~$14M potential |
| Sponsorship Income | ~$1.5M |
| Annual Income Potential | ~$15.5M (salary + bonuses + sponsorships) |
| Contract Duration | 2 years (2025–2026), valued between $4M – $28M |
| Major Boost | First F1 win at 2026 Chinese GP significantly increased his market value |
Career Beginnings and Key Achievements
Breaking into junior formulae at 15, Antonelli debuted in Italian F4 (2021), scoring podiums and immediately showcasing promise. His rise was meteoric, dominating Italian F4 and ADAC F4, with 13 Italian wins, not forgetting ADAC and FIA Motorsport Games gold. During the winter of 2023, Kimi clinched the Formula Regional Middle East title, followed by the 2023 European Regional Championship with Prema.
Kimi is the 13th driver to represent Mercedes in F1 after taking the start for his debut race in Melbourne, Australia. In so doing, he became the third-youngest driver to ever start an F1 race. In Miami, he became the youngest driver to record an F1 pole position of any kind when he claimed P1 for the Sprint Race.
Kimi settled for the number 12 as his official Formula 1 Grand Prix race number for 2025 and beyond. Ever since the personalized driver numbers were introduced at the start of 2014, the number 12 has appeared in two seasons, with Brazilian Felipe Nasr in 2015 and 2016 while driving for Sauber.
Personal Life and Relationships
Away from the racing track, Antonelli is a person who values balance. He passed his driving test six weeks before debuting in F1 and is still pursuing his high school studies, a true testament to his discipline.
Kimi has been in a relationship, with Eliška Bábíčková since October 2023. Eliška Bábíčková is a kart racer and she is also a national OK-class champion. Kimi and Eliška Bábíčková do not have any children. When Kimi is not busy he likes to play games learn things and hang out with his family and fans. Kimi really enjoys gaming and spending time with his family and fans.
He also has a love for fashion and was invited in February 2026 to sit in the front row at Gucci’s show in Milan, a clear indication that brands are paying close attention. Kimi has also fronted teamwear campaigns, including the Y-3 collaboration on the grid, quietly building a presence beyond racing.
With Kimi, it is hard not to get excited about an up-and-coming driver who has the opportunity to do something spectacular in F1 over the years to come.
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