Key Highlights:
- Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is planning to establish his own young driver academy to create accessible pathways into professional motorsport.
- Inspired partly by Max Verstappen’s involvement in sports cars, Antonelli’s program will focus on professional GT racing as well as single-seaters.
- Antonelli also intends to team up with his father, Marco Antonelli, to compete together in a GT3 endurance race in the near future.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli Sets Sights on Junior Driver Academy
Mercedes Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is already outlining long-term ambitions outside the grand prix paddock by preparing to establish his own junior driver academy. Despite being in the thick of competition during his sophomore season in Formula 1, the 20-year-old Italian is focusing on the steep financial barriers that confront aspiring talents.
Growing up immersed in the operations of his father’s GT outfit, AKM Motorsport, Antonelli is acutely aware of the economic hurdles that often stifle promising careers in the lower ranks. In an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport (AMUS), Antonelli explained his motivation to provide structured backing for emerging racers, following similar initiatives recently undertaken by Formula 1 peers such as Lando Norris.
“We want to build an academy for young people so they get a chance in motorsport,”
Antonelli told AMUS. “Motorsport is a great but difficult world. It is not easy to get opportunities there. We want to help young drivers get a chance.”
Embracing GT3 Racing and the Max Verstappen Influence
Unlike traditional development programs that channel participants exclusively into the single-seater ladder leading to Formula 1, Antonelli plans to broaden the scope of his initiative to embrace sports car racing. Professional GT categories represent sustainable, paid careers for many drivers, a reality that four-time world champion Max Verstappen has highlighted through his extensive participation in GT3 competitions and endurance programs.
Antonelli pointed out that Verstappen’s high-profile involvement has significantly elevated public and commercial awareness of GT racing across the globe.
“GT racing is growing strongly right now,”
Antonelli confirmed to AMUS. “Max is helping to make it more well-known and show the fascination.”
Consequently, the Italian aims to ensure that his young recruits look at every viable professional route available in top-tier paddocks. “That doesn’t necessarily have to be in Formula 1,”
he added. “There are also many opportunities in professional GT racing.”
Targeting a Father-Son GT3 Endurance Entry
Alongside his academy plans, Antonelli is actively working to realize a personal milestone alongside his father, Marco Antonelli. A former touring car driver, the elder Antonelli founded AKM Motorsport, where Kimi gained foundational track time in GT3 machinery during his early development.
Although Kimi previously drove for the family outfit three years ago, the pair have never shared a cockpit as co-drivers in a competitive race environment. Both are now committed to making that entry happen in a GT3 car.
“We share almost everything, especially when it comes to motorsport. We also have joint projects for the future,”
Antonelli explained. “A dream of my father’s is that we race together one day. I competed for his team three years ago, but we have never participated in a race together as team-mates. We would like to do that in a GT3 car.”
When asked regarding a prospective schedule for the shared endurance outing, Antonelli confirmed the plan is being targeted for an upcoming campaign: “If we find the time, absolutely,”
Antonelli said. “Next year, at the beginning or middle of the season, there will definitely be an opportunity. It would be nice to fulfil this dream of my father’s.”
Why This Matters
Skyrocketing budgets in karting and single-seater feeder series such as Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2 have made progression through the junior categories increasingly prohibitive for drivers without substantial commercial backing. By extending driver development toward competitive GT3 platforms, Antonelli’s proposed academy offers an alternative route that prepares prospects for professional careers across global endurance championships.
Furthermore, active Formula 1 drivers investing directly back into grassroots and sports car operations—mirroring the efforts of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris—demonstrates a growing trend of current grand prix stars leveraging their platforms to diversify pathways across international motorsport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s goal with his driver academy?
Antonelli aims to provide young drivers with opportunities to break into motorsport by offering training and development that targets both single-seaters and professional GT3 racing.
Why is the academy looking beyond Formula 1?
Acknowledging the limited seats in Formula 1 and the recent growth of the GT3 category—boosted in part by Max Verstappen’s endurance activities—Antonelli emphasizes that professional GT racing offers legitimate, highly lucrative avenues for talented drivers.
When will Andrea Kimi Antonelli race with his father, Marco Antonelli?
Antonelli indicated that they are targeting an opportunity next year, potentially around the beginning or middle of the racing season, to enter a GT3 race together as co-drivers.
