FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION · MERCEDES
Kimi Antonelli Biography: Age, Family and F1 World Champion
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is an Italian Formula 1 driver and the youngest world champion in the sport’s history. He won the 2026 title with Mercedes and races with car number 12.
Born in Bologna, Kimi grew up around motorsport. He went from karting to Formula 1 in only a few years. His story includes a strong junior racing career, his family, his education and a remarkable second season in F1.
Kimi Antonelli at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. Photo: Liauzh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
25 August 2006
Mercedes F1
Kimi Antonelli at a glance
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Bologna, Italy |
| Father | Marco Antonelli |
| Mother | Veronica Pomaro |
| Sister | Maggie Antonelli |
| Education | ITCS Gaetano Salvemini, Casalecchio di Reno |
| F1 debut | Australian Grand Prix, 2025 |
| Car number | 12 |
| 2026 championship | World Champion, 9 wins and 380 points through 1 November |
| @kimi.antonelli |
On this page
Kimi Antonelli wins the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship
On 1 November 2026, Kimi Antonelli finished third in the Mexico City Grand Prix and clinched his first Formula 1 world title. Max Verstappen won the race ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Kimi had already built a big enough points lead that third place secured the championship.
He was 20 years and 68 days old when he took the title. That made him the youngest Formula 1 world champion, breaking the record set by Sebastian Vettel. He also became Italy’s first F1 champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
He had won nine Grands Prix that season and reached 380 championship points after Mexico. Four races were still to be run. Read the official Formula 1 race report.
Parents, sister and early life
Kimi was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna. His father, Marco Antonelli, is a former racing driver and founder of the family’s racing team, now known as AKM Motorsport. His mother is Veronica Pomaro, who has also worked in the family motorsport business. Kimi has a younger sister named Maggie.
Racing was part of family life from an early age. Kimi started karting as a child. His parents supported his ambitions but also wanted him to keep up with school. His mother often calls him Andy, a nickname taken from his first name, Andrea.
Education and school
Kimi attended ITCS Gaetano Salvemini near Bologna. He had to balance classes and exams with travel for races across Europe and beyond.
He completed his high school diploma in June 2025, shortly after reaching his first Formula 1 podium in Canada. He also invited his classmates to the Formula 1 paddock at Imola.
Why is he called Kimi?
His full name is Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Kimi is his middle name, not a name he adopted after becoming famous. Mercedes says a family friend suggested it because it sounded good between Andrea and Antonelli. Despite what some fans assume, he was not named after Formula 1 champion Kimi Räikkönen.
From karting to Formula 1
Kimi started competing in karts when he was young and began winning junior titles. Mercedes signed him to its junior programme in 2019. His progress through the racing categories was unusually fast.
- 2015: Wins early Easykart events.
- 2019: Joins the Mercedes junior programme.
- 2020 and 2021: Wins European karting championships.
- 2022: Wins Italian Formula 4 and ADAC Formula 4 titles.
- 2023: Wins the Formula Regional Middle East and European championships.
- 2024: Moves to Formula 2 with PREMA, winning at Silverstone and Budapest.
- 2025: Starts his first F1 season with Mercedes.
- 2026: Wins his first Grand Prix in China and then the world championship.
He moved directly from Formula Regional to Formula 2 without racing in Formula 3. He made his Formula 1 debut in Australia in March 2025 after Mercedes chose him for the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton.
First F1 season with Mercedes in 2025
Antonelli joined George Russell at Mercedes for the 2025 season. He finished fourth on his debut in Australia and scored points in several early races. At the Miami Grand Prix weekend, he became the youngest driver to take pole position for a Formula 1 sprint race.
His first Grand Prix podium arrived in Canada. He later finished second in Brazil and ended his rookie year with a strong run of results. The experience gave him a base for an extraordinary 2026 campaign.
Kimi Antonelli's 2026 Formula 1 wins
His first Grand Prix victory came in China on 15 March 2026. Through the Mexican Grand Prix on 1 November, he had won nine races:
- China, 15 March
- Japan, 29 March
- Miami, 3 May
- Canada, 24 May
- Monaco, 7 June
- Belgium, 19 July
- Italy, 6 September
- Spain, 13 September
- United States, 25 October
He finished third in Mexico on 1 November, securing the drivers’ title. These results are dated so readers can distinguish completed races from upcoming ones. See the official F1 results.
Kimi Antonelli celebrating at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. Photo: Liauzh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP.
Girlfriend and relationship status
Kimi previously dated Czech karting driver and creator Eliška Bábíčková. The couple had reportedly been together since 2023. In February 2026, Bábíčková announced that they had separated.
She said they had grown apart and asked people not to spread false stories about their breakup. Kimi has not publicly confirmed a new partner. He is not known to be married or to have children.
Height, salary and net worth
Some public sports profiles list Kimi’s height at about 172 cm. This is a reported estimate, not an official Mercedes measurement.
His Mercedes contract and bonuses are private. Celebrity Net Worth estimated his fortune at about US$18 million in June 2026 and reported a US$5 million base salary. These are estimates from an entertainment finance website, not confirmed financial disclosures. His actual earnings may differ.
Kimi Antonelli videos and interviews
Watch his first Grand Prix win and an interview about his early career. Both videos come from official racing channels.
First Grand Prix victory, Formula 1
Getting to know Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Official Instagram and social media
Kimi’s official Instagram is @kimi.antonelli. Videos and race highlights also appear on the Formula 1 YouTube channel and Mercedes YouTube channel.
More biographies
Explore more profiles in Wikinbio Celebrities.
Questions about Kimi Antonelli
What is Kimi Antonelli’s full name?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
When was Kimi Antonelli born?
25 August 2006, in Bologna, Italy.
Who are Kimi Antonelli’s parents?
Marco Antonelli and Veronica Pomaro.
Does Kimi Antonelli have a sister?
Yes. He has a younger sister named Maggie.
When did Kimi make his Formula 1 debut?
He debuted for Mercedes at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
When was his first Formula 1 win?
The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.
Did Kimi win the 2026 F1 title?
Yes. He clinched the title in Mexico City on 1 November 2026.