PlanetF1
The Final Sector: Will Imola replace Abu Dhabi? Antonelli’s meteoric rise
Insight directly from the F1 paddock courtesy of the all-new PlanetF1.com podcast with Thomas Maher and Mat Coch.
Andrea KimiAntonelli
12
Championship
1st
2026 season
Points
292
Wins
8
+1 sprint
Podiums
12
Pole positions
6
Best finish
1st
14 starts
About Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Born
- 25 Aug 2006 (20)
- Birthplace
- Bologna, Italy
- F1 debut
- 2025
- World titles
- 0
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is an Italian racing driver from Bologna who joined the Mercedes junior programme at the age of 12. He swept the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional European and Middle East championships in 2023, before moving straight into Formula 2 with Prema in 2024, skipping Formula 3. He won two F2 races that year and was then chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Antonelli made his Formula 1 debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, climbing from 16th on the grid to fourth in the rain. At Suzuka he became the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix and to set a fastest lap, and third place in Canada made him the third-youngest podium finisher in the sport's history. Further podiums followed in São Paulo and Las Vegas as he finished seventh in the standings.
Junior career: 2022 Italian and ADAC F4 champion; 2023 Formula Regional European and Middle East champion
2026 results
| Round | Grand Prix | Grid | Finish | Sprint | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Australian GP | 2 | 2 | 18 | |
| 2 |  Chinese GP | 1 | 1 | 29 | |
| 3 |  Japanese GP | 1 | 1 | 25 | |
| 4 |  Miami GP | 1 | 1 | 28 | |
| 5 |  Canadian GP | 2 | 1 | 31 | |
| 6 |  Monaco GP | 1 | 1 | 25 | |
| 7 |  Barcelona GP | 3 | 16 | 0 | |
| 8 |  Austrian GP | 4 | 3 | 15 | |
| 9 |  British GP | 1 | 15 | 8 | |
| 10 |  Belgian GP | 1 | 1 | 25 | |
| 11 |  Hungarian GP | 7 | 3 | 15 | |
| 12 |  Dutch GP | 3 | 2 | 23 | |
| 13 |  Italian GP | 19 | 1 | 25 | |
| 14 | Spanish GP | 2 | 1 | 25 |
Teammate battle: Antonelli vs Russell
Antonelli news
Motorsport.com
George Russell forced to "rewire his brain" amid Kimi Antonelli struggles, says David Coulthard
George Russell is being forced to "rewire his brain" as he struggles to consistently match his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, according to former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard. Russell was considered one of the favourites…
Autosport
Russell's theory on his big hope for F1 2027 – and Antonelli's reply
From being the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season title favourite to fighting to hold on to second place as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli accelerates into the distance, George Russell has endured a challenging few months. During that…
BBC Sport
The moment Antonelli knew he had been transformed as an F1 driver
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli tells BBC Sport how he is "still finding my way" in F1 after a 2024 crash "stayed in my head for a very long time".
Motorsport.com
Kimi Antonelli shows "zero sign" of championship pressure as Jolyon Palmer hails 2026 turnaround
Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli is showing "zero sign" of feeling the championship pressure as he closes in on his maiden title, according to former F1 driver and F1 TV pundit Jolyon Palmer. Following his eighth victory…
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