Remember the name–Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
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Kimi Antonelli lives and breathes motorsports. Growing up, his life revolved around the sport, and in 2025, his dream of becoming an F1 driver turned into a reality. Born and raised in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Antonelli kickstarted his passion by joining the Junior Programme in April 2019, achieving numerous accolades under his wing. Kimi’s remarkable accomplishments throughout his journey led him to Formula 2, where he became the youngest multiple-winner in the series’ history.
His incredible F1 debut with the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team at the Australian Grand Prix landed him points and a remarkable fourth position at the chequered flag. Recently, he made history at the Japanese Grand Prix as the youngest driver to lead a race, showcasing the limitless potential within him. As F1 fans rally behind this exceptional rookie, we celebrate a few inspiring facts about Kimi Antonelli.
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He’s a Virgo
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006.
His dad, Marco Antonelli, was a former racing driver
He runs his own motorsport team, ‘Antonelli Motorsport.’
Kimi is the third youngest driver to start at a Formula One Grand Prix
With his incredible debut at F1 for Mercedes, his relationship with the team runs deep. He joined the Junior Programme in 2019 and has since won numerous titles in the junior karting categories, before competing in the Italian F4 and Formula 4 UEA Championship Trophy Round.
He looks up to three-time F1 driver champion Ayrton Senna
As stated in Racing News 365, Antonelli has expressed his admiration for the F1 driver.
“I always got really passionate when I saw videos of [Ayrton] Senna,” Antonelli said. “Growing up I would watch all the DVDs of the seasons from the 1980s to the 2000s, and in one of them, I remember watching Ayrton and it really stood out.
“He is my idol because of who he was off the track as well as on it. An incredible driver, but a great person too. That inspired me, and to achieve even a little part of what he did in my career would be so cool.”
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He can’t live without pasta.
Yes, Antonelli is a fan of pasta. In an interview, he mentioned that his favourite meals are hearty bowls of Tortellini and Tagliatelle. “I cannot give it up for my whole life. I just love it too much.”
Before every race, the one song he would listen to (among many others) is “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Apart from “Can’t Hold Us”, he has expressed that his favourite songs are “Levitating” by Dua Lipa and “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
He loves to unwind at home by playing video games
While he loves spending his free time at home playing the simulator, he’s also a huge fan of Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege.
