Mercedes Formula 1 junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his single-seater debut in September, joining Prema for the final three rounds of the Italian F4 championship.

Antonelli has enjoyed success in karting, with his list of achievements headlined by titles in the WSK Champions Cup and the ROK Cup in the Mini class, the WSK Open Cup, Euro Series, Final Cup and Super Master Series in OKJ, the WSK Euro Series and FIA European Championship in OK.

Antonelli joined the Mercedes junior driver programme in 2019, and now makes the next step in his racing career to single-seaters.

The Bologna-born driver will debut in the Italian F4 series just days after turning 15 years old.

“I am really happy to announce that I will join Prema in these last 3 races of the Italian F4 Championship,” Antonelli said.

“This is an exciting new challenge for me and I can’t wait to start. A big thanks to Prema and Mercedes for giving me this amazing opportunity.”

The next round of the Italian F4 championship will take place on September 11 – 12 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

The final two events of the season will take place at Mugello on October 9 – 10 and Monza on October 30 – 31.

“Antonelli is one of the most outstanding prospects in karting competition,” said Prema team principal Angelo Rosin.

“He has impressed since a very early age and achieved remarkable success there. It will be very interesting for us to see him adapt to a new form of motor racing.

“Moving up to single-seaters is never an easy task as it’s a comprehensively new experience, so we are going to assist him in the transition. We are equally looking forward to his competitive F4 debut.”

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Gabriele Mini, 15, has been crowned the 2020 Italian Formula 4 champion, sealing the title with a round to spare.

Mini, who currently has a margin of 85 points over compatriot Francesco Pizzi, secured the title after claiming a victory and two second-placed finishes last weekend at Imola.

The Italian is the fifth Prema driver to claim the Drivers’ Championship since the series’ inception in 2014 – the maiden title went to current Racing Point F1 driver Lance Stroll.

He is also the first Italian driver to win the championship.

“It feels so good,” Mini said. “It has been a tough Championship since the beginning of the year.

“I tried to carry as many points as I could and I tried to learn from every mistake. It would have been perfect with a race win but I’m still really happy for this title.

“I can’t be enough thankful to my team, my management and everyone who supported me.

“Winning my first title in single-seaters is really something special, I really can’t explain my feelings right now, I’m so happy.”

Mini’s title-winning performance came on a weekend in which Ferrari-backed Prema team-mate Dino Beganovic, third in the standings, claimed his maiden single-seater race victory. 

Mini is currently managed by Nicolas Todt, son of FIA president Jean Todt, who also works with F1’s Charles Leclerc and Daniil Kvyat.

The final round of the Italian F4 season will take place next month at Vallelunga.

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