F1 star Kimi Antonelli could drive a Lamborghini ‘perfectly’ before he turned 10

Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli’s prodigious gift for motorsport became evident very early in his formative years!

Kimi Antonelli has managed to become one of the most impressive young drivers to enter Formula 1 in recent years.

Now the youngest championship leader in F1 history, Antonelli is living up to the high potential that Mercedes have consistently touted.

Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli learned how to drive a Lamborghini as a kid

Giulia Toninelli of Gazzetta Italia did a feature on Kimi Antonelli and his rise to being a top driver in Formula 1 in the last few years.

In the feature, Toninelli revealed that Antonelli’s talent shone through at an early age, with him managing to drive a Lamborghini perfectly before he even turned 10 years old.

“At less than ten years old, Kimi could perfectly drive a Lamborghini on the Adria track, riding his father’s lap, following perfect cornering lines, and could compete on any track with kids much older than him.

“Among his most notable characteristics was the great ease with which he approached anything he didn’t know.

“He needed very little to break away from his opponents, who then had to work an entire weekend to try to match his lap times and get close to his results.”

How Toto Wolff was immediately convinced to sign Kimi Antonelli

When approached to take a look at Kimi Antonelli for the Mercedes Academy, Toto Wolff sent a trusted figure to study the young driver, who instantly took notice of him.

“Giovanni Minardi asked for a meeting with Toto Wolff at Monza, on the Formula 1 race weekend, and convinced the manager to send one of his men to see Antonelli in action during a kart racing weekend.

“Wolff was immediately convinced and sent the very trusted Gwen Lagrue, head of the Mercedes Academy, to Italy, who was in turn struck by the boy’s evident innate ability.

“The team continued to watch him for some time and, between 2018 and 2019, when Kimi was not yet 13, Mercedes signed him to help him on his way to his single-seater debut, which then took place in 2021.”

Antonelli made the most of his opportunity once he got into Mercedes, rising among the ranks to eventually be hand-picked to replace Lewis Hamilton.

Read more:

• Mercedes staff don’t see George Russell as 2026 title favourite with Kimi Antonelli change
• David Coulthard compares F1 star Kimi Antonelli to ‘generational’ MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi
• Kimi Antonelli says he’s made a ‘dangerous’ call during title fight with George Russell