Kimi Antonelli goes karting in disguise, smashes lap times
Mercedes F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli disguised himself to go public karting, where he set a lap time over five seconds faster than one set by Alex Albon and dominated other guests by three seconds in wet conditions.
Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli spent part of his winter break at a public karting track under a pseudonym, where he proceeded to set lap times several seconds faster than other guests and even a benchmark set by fellow F1 driver Alex Albon.
Why it matters:
This lighthearted story highlights the raw, innate talent of one of F1's most promising young drivers. Setting such a dominant pace in a casual, unfamiliar environment underscores the skill gap between a Grand Prix driver and even very competent amateurs. It also offers a glimpse into how drivers maintain their competitive edge and have fun during the offseason.
The details:
- Antonelli visited the Daytona Motorsport karting track in Milton Keynes, near Silverstone, using the alias 'Henry Shovlin'—a playful reference to Mercedes' trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin.
- He reportedly went about three seconds faster than any other driver on the circuit that day, which was made more impressive by the fact conditions were wet.
- His disguised identity was only revealed when helmets were removed after the session.
- His lap time was also over five seconds quicker than a time Williams driver Alex Albon had previously set at the same venue.
The big picture:
The anecdote arrives as Antonelli prepares for his crucial second season in Formula 1. After a rookie year with flashes of promise, the focus for 2025 will be on how well he adapts to the new technical regulations and continues to close the performance gap to his highly-rated Mercedes teammate, George Russell. Stories like this, showing him honing his craft even during downtime, feed the narrative of a dedicated and supremely talented driver on a steep learning curve.
What's next:
Antonelli will now enjoy the remainder of the holiday break before preparations for 2025 pre-season testing ramp up in earnest. All eyes will be on whether the off-track fun and sharpened skills translate into a more consistent and competitive on-track performance when the new season begins.