Kimi Antonelli, the Italian star aiming for a maiden F1 Drivers’ Championship in 2026.
Born in Bologna, Italy, on August 25, 2006, Antonelli began karting at a young age and quickly showed elite-level talent on the international stage.
Enjoying major success in karting, Antonelli secured multiple titles, including back-to-back European Karting Championships, which caught the eye of the Mercedes junior programme.
Antonelli moved up to Formula 4 in 2022, and immediately made an impact, winning both the Italian F4 Championship and ADAC Formula 4 Championship in his rookie season.
After one campaign in Formula 4, Antonelli stepped up to the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023, where he dominated the series and won the title comprehensively.
Antonelli continued his rapid rise through the ranks, progressing to FIA Formula 2 and further proving his ability against stronger and more experienced competition.
Antonelli has been successful at every level so far and has quickly become one of the most highly rated young drivers in motorsport.
Kimi Antonelli's F1 Career
Antonelli began his F1 career with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in 2024 but had to wait for his first race in 2025 at the Australian Grand Prix.
Coming in fourth place on his debut in Melbourne, Antonelli went on to secure five top-six finishes in his opening six races of the 2025 season.
Showing himself to be capable of filling the big shoes left by former Silver Arrows star Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli has adapted remarkably well to the pressures of driving for one of the biggest teams in F1.
Antonelli landed his first podium finish at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, as he finished third, while his first second-place finish came later that season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil.
Heading into the 2026 season, Antonelli landed his maiden F1 race win at the Chinese Grand Prix and backed that up in the following race with another victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Following that excellent start to the season, Antonelli put himself firmly in the running to land the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
Career Stats
World Championships: 0
Grand Prix Wins: 5
Podiums: 9
Pole Positions: 4
Grand Prix Entered: 30
Career Points: 306
*Stats as of June 9, 2026
Contract and Net Worth
While exact contract details are not publicly disclosed, Antonelli is believed to be on a multi-year agreement with Mercedes that is tied to his performance on the track.
Some reports suggest the Italian has a basic salary with Mercedes of $2 million, while he has sponsorship deals, including one with sports brand Adidas.
His current net worth is relatively modest compared to established F1 drivers, estimated to be in the region of between $5 million and $11.5 million as of early 2026.
