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Theme park fun, discos with Russell and architect dreams – Getting to know the real Kimi Antonelli
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As one of several rookies on the 2025 grid, Kimi Antonelli is the next driver to face F1.com’s Getting to Know quickfire questions. From his earliest karting memories to wild experiences at theme parks, and an amusing dinner party guest list to his passions outside of F1, the Italian teenager shares all in the video player above and transcript below…
Can you describe yourself in three words?
Oof. There’s two different Kimis… first of all there’s the Kimi on track, and the Kimi off track. I will start with the one off track… I would say he’s pretty calm, he likes to enjoy his own time, but at the same time also enjoying time with friends and family. He can get a bit crazy when it comes to fun activities! That’s the Kimi outside the track. On track, I would say he’s really passionate about what he’s doing, about the sport, and focused as well. Also, he’s someone who really cares about the result, and about the performance.
Antonelli became the third-youngest driver in F1 history when he debuted for Mercedes in Australia
What made you fall in love with F1?
Well, my dad gave me the passion for the sport. He used to race when he was younger and then he started to run his own racing team, so since I was very little I was spending time at the track with him and I kind of built the passion. We were watching F1 races when I was around five, six, in the house, so that was also the point when I started to build the passion for F1.
When and where did you first drive something?
When I was two, I sat in a go-kart, but obviously I was too short and I couldn’t reach the pedal! I was quite sad about it, so my dad came over and basically I was sitting on his legs. But the first time I drove something on my own I was around five, it was this little go-kart which was called Delfino – very, very slow. It was at the track in Forli.
The next question is about when you passed your driving test, and you have quite a recent story, don’t you?
Yeah! It was intense, I’m not going to lie. I knew I had only that shot to make it. I didn’t really drive a manual before, didn’t really do parking, parallel parking, reverse parking. So, definitely it was good to get it on the first try, also because if I would have missed that, I don’t know when I would have been able to do it! It probably would have been also not a really nice story from my side. But yeah, I got the licence and I’m super happy, because I don’t have to ask my mum to carry me around anymore!
He has scored points at four of his opening five Grand Prix weekends
When was the last time you cried with laughter?
It was two years ago during my birthday. Basically, we went to this adventure park close to my house with all my friends. I remember we did this first attraction, which was a water attraction, and there was this friend of mine who was rocking up with his new shoes and was like, ‘Ah, I don’t I want to go on this, I don’t want to get my shoes wet’. I was like, ‘Mate, don’t worry, you’re not going to get your shoes wet!’ We did the attraction, and after we finished the water was at the level of our knees. My friend was so, so mad! When he walked off, he was spreading water, he was losing water from his shoes, and it was a really funny moment.
Talking of friends, who’s your best friend inside the paddock?
I would say Ollie [Bearman]. He was my team mate last year in F2, I think we got along pretty well, and we managed to keep the relationship. I’m happy he’s in F1 as well. I would say he’s my best mate.
Which three F1 personalities past or present would you invite to a dinner party and why?
A lot to choose [from]! I would say Fernando [Alonso]… I saw a picture of him with George [Russell] in a disco not a long time ago, and he looks like the right guy to party with.
(Turns to Russell, who is sitting behind him…)
You know the famous picture with you and Fernando? It’s like in a disco… I would take you two, because you guys look dangerous, but good fun as well! When I saw the picture, I was like, ‘These two look like they know what they’re doing there!’ Definitely those two, and then… I would take Max [Verstappen]. He looks like a good one as well for parties.
Antonelli would bring team mate Russell to his dream F1 dinner party
What’s the best holiday you’ve been on?
My best-ever holiday… I would say one of the best was last year, because with my friends we went on a road trip in California. We did it by car and it was really good fun. We went in many cities, and we spent time together, which was nice. A lot of driving as well, a lot of hours in the car. I slept [through] them all, basically! If I don’t drive, I get bored and I just sleep in the car. Otherwise, it was good fun – we had really good fun. I would rate that as one of the best holidays I’ve had.
What’s your favourite film and TV show of all time?
My favourite TV show… I don’t really watch many TV shows, to be honest. I watch more movies or Netflix series. I would say Drive to Survive… there are many that I’ve watched that I really like… The Last Dance, from the [Chicago] Bulls, Michael Jordan, that’s a really, really nice one… the Senna documentary as well, really nice, also the new one that’s been released. Then, a movie I’m really looking forward to watch is the new F1 movie. I’ve seen trailers and it looks really, really cool, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that’s going to be!
What’s the strangest gift you’ve ever been given by a fan?
So, I got this weird like plush [toy], it was like an animal, but it was really hard to understand what kind of animal it was. I also got some strange candies that I didn’t try, because I was scared of [them]. They had this weird shape and texture, so I didn’t really want to risk it! I really appreciate it… to all the fans that are watching, I really appreciate all the gifts, but those two were the weirdest gifts that I’ve ever [received].
He has received plenty of support from his dad, Marco, who also raced cars
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve received many. There’s so much good advice that I’ve received over the years. Be humble is the main one, of course; no matter what you’re doing, you’re not above anyone else. Actually, I feel very privileged [about] what I’m doing, because I’m lucky that as a profession I do what I love to do. Then always believing in yourself. Also, having the right people around you; build a good circle of people around you that you can trust, because they can really help you, especially in difficult moments. And criticise yourself… make sure you first find where you could have done better, your mistakes, in order to improve not only as a driver but as a person in life.
Which other job do you wish you could try for a day?
I would like to be a car designer, so designing my own car, or designing my own house! I would like to be an NBA [basketball] player for a day. I’ve really got passionate into NBA. I’ve never watched a game [in person], but I’m really looking forward to when we’re going to be racing in the US. I think it’s pretty cool. These three are the main jobs. I really like music as well, but I’m a really, really terrible singer… I would probably need a lot of auto-tune, like only auto-tune, because it would just sound terrible to the ears!
Where do you want to be in five years’ time?
I want to be still in F1, hopefully being successful. Hopefully I’ve got some wins, and obviously the ultimate goal is to win a World Championship. In five years hopefully I will achieve this, but yeah, of course I would love still to be in F1, because it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. That’s the [aim], and hopefully already with some really good results in the bag!
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