Unlicensed Driving Confessed by Formula One Driver
Hey there!
Did you know this intriguing fact about Andrea Kimi Antonelli? The young Italian racing whiz still doesn't possess a driver's license at 18 years old, quite the quirky situation, right?
This Formula 1 star has managed to cruised around sans license while strutting his stuff in test drives and at the Italian Grand Prix for the Mercedes team. Remember, he's riding without a license both on the track and on the streets. As it stands, Antonelli owns a nifty Ligier microcar that, luckily for him, doesn't demand a license in Italy.
According to Antonelli himself, he's got a date with the DMV in December and hopes he doesn't bomb the test. Here's what he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport: "It's a head-scratcher driving a Formula 1 car without a license. I can't wait to get one in December—hopefully I don't screw things up!"
Interestingly, the International Automobile Federation has updated the rules regarding acquiring a superlicense for Formula 1. Nowadays, a driver's license isn't a prerequisite for zipping around public roads. And, if a 17-year-old has shown their racing chops in Formula series, they can also conveniently overlook this requirement.
Here's a little scoop on Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This fast mover on four wheels was born on August 25, 2006, in Bologna, Italy. He began tearing up the racetracks at seven years old through karting and claimed victory in countless international competitions.
His father is also a racing enthusiast and operates the AKM Motorsport team in Formula 4.
In 2019, Andrea was inked into the Mercedes junior team and will be serving as George Russell's teammate in Formula 1 races starting from the following season.
So, keep your eyes peeled for more exciting exploits from this rising star! 😎
Fun Fact: Andrea Kimi Antonelli made history in 2025 when he secured his first F1 podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing third. He's one of the youngest drivers to achieve this feat, trailing after Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll[1][2].
[1] "Andrea Kimi Antonelli bags first F1 podium at 2025 Canadian Grand Prix." F1 News, 01 October 2025.
[2] "Young Gun: The Rise of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1." Motorsport Magazine, 07 October 2025.
[3] "@AndreaKimiAntonelli." Instagram, Instagram, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/andreakimiantonelli/. Accessed 1 October 2025.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli, despite his young age, has already made a name for himself in the world of sports, particularly in racing, showcasing his skills in various Formula series at only 18 years old, despite not having a driver's license.
- Being a fan of motorsports, Antonelli owns a Ligier microcar, which doesn't require a license to drive in Italy, providing him the freedom to navigate the streets when not racing.
