Italy
Rookie season_2026
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team
Twelve rounds in, three podiums and a maiden victory keep Kimi leading the 2026 championship.
The first kart. At six, Kimi discovered karting — turning a childhood curiosity into something of his own.
National success. Dominating Italian championships established Antonelli as a generational karting talent.
Finding his people. Kimi joined the Mercedes Junior Programme, marking his first major step into professional motorsport.
European crowns. Back-to-back European OK titles sealed his transition to single-seaters with authority.
The year everything changed. Formula 2 brought Kimi closer to F1, while Mercedes confirmed him as their future race driver.
Testing the limits. Relentless TPC testing days across Europe prepared Kimi for the physical demands of Formula 1.
From karts to f1. Kimi is now racing at the highest level, with Bologna still his anchor — family, home and life beyond racing.
A composed drive through a difficult weekend secured another podium — and kept Kimi at the top of the championship.
Read story
