Andrea Kimi Antonelli went undercover at Daytona Milton Keynes during the winter break under the alias "Henry Shovlin"
Andrea Kimi Antonelli decided to go undercover at a Milton Keynes go-kart track at the start of the Formula 1 winter break.
The Italian driver, who finished his rookie season for Mercedes in seventh in the drivers' championship with 150 points, chose the name Henry Shovlin as his alias as he arrived at the Daytona Milton Keynes track. While he didn't win the main race due to picking up two penalties, he did set the fastest lap.
Daniel Prince from Daytona explained on BBC Three Counties Radio: "He actually got two penalties for pushing too hard, so didn't finish on the podium at the end of it. But he did get the fastest lap of the race by at least three seconds."
Antonelli managed to remain unknown while he was wearing a helmet, but was recognised as soon as he removed it.
"Everyone really mobbed him so a member of staff quickly rescued him and put him behind the desk for a cheeky photo by our celebrity leaderboard, and then he ran away and left," Prince continued.
Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff praised Antonelli after his rookie season with the Brackley outfit.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
"We've seen very strong races at the beginning of the season, particularly towards the end. But I think we never doubted in the speed, the talent and his ability," Wolff explained during a Mercedes debrief video.
"It's just you're being thrown to the cannibals in Formula 1. The intense pressure of the media, the responsibility you have to Mercedes - to the many people that are giving their all to provide you an engine and a car.
"And I think probably that was the learning, throughout the middle of the season, particularly in Europe, with everybody wanting something from you. And he's a good person. So he didn't want to say no either.
"And overall, I would say a good season, full of learning, a strong base to move from here and start in 2026 with a new car, new to everyone. And you know what to expect."
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Category: General Sports
