It’s official, 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli has secured his spot as the youngest F1 Champion in history after just two seasons, but while the dedicated Mercedes driver has been relentless on the track, the speedy Italian has also stayed active outside of his car. Here’s why the history maker’s appetite for adventure is the reason that he never stays still, and how a smart approach to staying active benefits both body and mind.
Kimi Antonelli’s third place in Mexico City on November 1 meant that he’d earned enough points to stave off all other drivers to complete the season as champion, but this overnight success is the result of a mature approach to staying sharp. “I try to do things that keep me active, but won’t tire me out,” explained Antonelli during a recent and telling interview with GQ. “It’s all a way to release mental stress, to just relax and enjoy. I try to do these activities as much as possible because in sports, the mental [part] is basically what does everything.”
The activities that Antonelli spoke of include race related training such as simulators, go-karts, and operating remote controlled cars, but he’s also a keen proponent of padel. Not only has the young upstart played against fellow Mercedes drivers like George Russell, but he’s even been known to stroke the ball from the deck of a super yacht from time to time.
Antonelli’s fuel for dominating F1 was on show early, as he transitioned from Formula 2 and continued his approach to “hard” training, sharing that a day of working out included “An early morning swim, neck training at lunch, and an afternoon bike ride.”
The inspirational Italian is also hot with the hoops, and in a recent Instagram Reel revealed that he can make a basket from an impressive distance, all while standing on one leg!
How Does Kimi Antonelli Multi-Sport Training Keeps Him Active and Sharp?
While Antonelli’s love of fun activities helps him keep a positive mindset as he works towards pole position, science has also shown that becoming skilled in a variety of sporting activities can only help with his day job. Activities such as shooting baskets, stroking the Padel ball, and other loves such as surfing, no doubt boost his reaction times. In fact, a scientific study in 2023 confirmed that reaction training (they used flashing lights as the stimuli) induced beneficial effects on physiological and cognitive performance.
At just 20 years of age, Kimi Antonelli has the world at his highly successful feet. So, what’s next? “Right now, my main goal is to give everything to F1, but in my normal life, I want to be successful, too,” he revealed to GQ. “I want to be efficient, and in 20 to 30 years’ time, when I won’t be racing anymore, I want to still do something that keeps me active. Because once you finish, it’s easy to do nothing after working hard for so many years. I want to be successful outside of racing.”
With an attitude like Antonelli’s, the journey is far from over.
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