Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli penalized twice in off-season karting event

Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli was handed two penalties for overly aggressive driving during an off-season karting endurance race at Daytona Milton Keynes, costing him a podium finish. Despite the penalties, the 18-year-old Italian, competing under the pseudonym Henry Shovlin, set a fastest lap that shattered the existing circuit record by over three seconds.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's off-track activities are closely watched as he is widely tipped for a Formula 1 race seat with Mercedes in 2026. This incident highlights his relentless, push-to-the-limit driving style—a trait essential for success at the highest level, but one that also needs careful management to avoid costly mistakes in F1.

The details:

• Antonelli participated in the SODI D40 go-karting endurance race, following the lead of drivers like Max Verstappen by using a pseudonym to compete incognito.
• Circuit staff confirmed the two penalties were a direct result of "pushing too hard," which ultimately prevented him from finishing on the podium.
• His performance was nonetheless dominant; his benchmark lap time of 1:24.5 was more than five seconds quicker than Williams F1 driver Alex Albon's best time set under similar conditions at the same circuit.
• After his identity was revealed, Antonelli was reportedly swarmed by fellow karting drivers, requiring track staff to intervene and escort him to safety.

The big picture:

Antonelli is at the center of the F1 driver market speculation for 2026, with a strong expectation that he will graduate to a race seat with the Mercedes works team. His aggressive, record-breaking pace in a kart—even in an informal setting—underscores the raw speed and talent that makes him such a highly-rated prospect. The challenge for Mercedes will be to harness that speed while refining his racecraft to avoid the kind of penalties that marred this outing.