Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His father, Marco Antonelli, is a sportscar racing driver. Antonelli started kart racing at the age of seven and won championships in several categories. He signed to the Mercedes Junior Team in 2018. In 2020, Antonelli won the European Championship on his senior class debut, aged 14, and successfully defended his European Championship in the OK class in 2021.
Antonelli made his junior formulae debut in the 2021 Italian F4 Championship. In 2022, he remained with Prema in Italian F4 and also competed in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship with Prema, winning both titles. He represented Team Italy in the Formula 4 Cup discipline of the FIA Motorsport Games at Paul Ricard, winning the gold medal. Antonelli then contested the Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Mumbai Falcons in 2023, securing the title. He progressed to the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023, remaining with Prema, and clinched the championship at Zandvoort.
Antonelli progressed directly to FIA Formula 2 in 2024 with Prema, alongside Ferrari Driver Academy member Oliver Bearman. He secured his maiden win and podium in his eighth F2 round at Silverstone. Antonelli took his first feature race victory in Budapest, elevating him to sixth in the standings. He finished the season sixth in the standings with two victories from three podiums.
In April 2019, Mercedes announced that Antonelli had joined their Junior Team. Antonelli made his free practice debut at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. He signed for Mercedes in 2025, replacing Lewis Hamilton to partner George Russell. With his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, he became the third-youngest driver in Formula One history at 18 years and 203 days old. He achieved his maiden podium finish in his rookie season at the Canadian Grand Prix and became the youngest driver to set a fastest lap. Mercedes emerged as the leading constructor in 2026, with Antonelli winning four Grands Prix and becoming the youngest-ever polesitter in China and the youngest World Drivers' Championship leader in Japan.
In May 2023, Antonelli debuted in sportscar racing, competing for his father's AKM Motorsport outfit in the opening round of the Italian GT3 Championship at Misano. He won the first race from pole position. Antonelli co-founded the kart racing team AKM Motorsport by Kart Republic alongside his father in 2023. He is the subject of a short documentary film, The Seat (2025), distributed by Netflix.
Antonelli selected the number 12 as his personal number in Formula One, citing inspiration from his idol, Ayrton Senna. His racing helmet uses a base colour of Savoy blue, with green, white, and red details, inspired by the national colours of Italy.
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