KIMI ANTONELLI.
THE ROAD TO F1.
The junior championships, the move through Formula 2 and the Mercedes debut that shaped his rise.
Independent resource · Updated 12 October 2026
Driver at a glance
- Full name
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Born
- 25 August 2006
- Hometown
- Bologna, Italy
- F1 team
- Mercedes
- Race number
- 12
- F1 debut
- Australia, 2025
Sources: Formula 1 driver profile and Mercedes driver profile.
From karting to the Formula 1 grid
Antonelli’s route is unusual for how quickly each category led to the next. He joined Mercedes’ junior programme in April 2019, then won European karting titles in 2020 and 2021 before moving into single-seaters with PREMA.
His breakthrough came in 2022 with both the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 titles. He followed that with the Middle East and European Formula Regional championships in 2023. Mercedes also records a gold medal in the FIA Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup.
Rather than spending a season in Formula 3, he moved into Formula 2 for 2024. The jump brought a tougher learning year: sixth in the standings, with victories in the Silverstone Sprint and Budapest Feature Race. His first F1 practice appearance followed at Monza.
He joined George Russell at Mercedes for 2025. His rookie year delivered three Grand Prix podiums, 150 points and seventh in the championship.
Sources: Mercedes career history; Formula 2 promotion announcement; Mercedes 2024 season review.
Career milestones
- 2019
Mercedes junior programme
Joined the team’s development programme while racing karts.
- 2020–21
European karting champion
Won consecutive FIA European titles in the OK class.
- 2022
Two Formula 4 championships
Secured the Italian and ADAC titles.
- 2023
Formula Regional double
Won the Middle East and European championships.
- 2024
Formula 2 race winner
Two victories and sixth in the championship.
- 2025
Formula 1 debut
Three podiums in his first season with Mercedes.
- 2026
Grand Prix winner and title contender
Eight wins, 14 Grand Prix podiums and the championship lead after Singapore. See the full season results.
Sources: Mercedes career record and Current F1 standings.
How his career has changed
The useful distinction is between promotion and performance. Junior titles explain why Mercedes invested in Antonelli; his Formula 1 results show how that investment has translated at the highest level. The two should be read together, without treating success in one category as a guarantee in another.
For the current chapter, the season results page separates victories, podiums and points. It offers a more precise picture than a list of career highlights alone.