Kimi Antonelli traded the Formula 1 paddock for a yacht in Sardinia, where he was photographed playing paddleball with an unidentified woman during a family vacation.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver was seen aboard the boat on July 30, four days after finishing third at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
According to Just Jared’s photo report, Antonelli wore light-blue swim shorts as he relaxed in the sun and played with his companion.
His father, former racing driver Marco Antonelli, was also photographed aboard the yacht.
The Photographs Do Not Confirm a New Relationship
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The images show the two participating in a casual paddleball game on the yacht. They were also photographed talking and spending time near other people aboard the vessel. Antonelli, Mercedes and his representatives have not publicly identified the woman or confirmed that the pair are dating.
Earlier photographs from the vacation showed Antonelli and his father spending time aboard a yacht with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, his wife, Susie Wolff, and their son, Jack.
The Yacht Trip Followed Another Podium Finish
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Antonelli began Formula 1’s summer break after securing third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26. The Mercedes driver initially qualified fourth but received a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags, dropping him to seventh on the starting grid.
He recovered during the race and benefited from a late Virtual Safety Car period to move into podium position. McLaren driver Lando Norris won the race, with Max Verstappen finishing second and Antonelli crossing the line third. The official Formula 1 race report recorded Antonelli 18.728 seconds behind Norris.
Lewis Hamilton challenged Antonelli during the closing stages but finished fifth after receiving a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Charles Leclerc was promoted to fourth. The result gave Antonelli 15 championship points and his ninth Grand Prix podium of the season.
Antonelli Entered the Summer Break as the Championship Leader
Antonelli has won six of the opening 11 Grands Prix of his second Formula 1 season. His victories came in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco and Belgium. He also finished second in Australia and third in Austria and Hungary.
His only retirement came at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while a difficult British Grand Prix produced his only other finish outside the top three.
Formula 1’s official drivers’ standings listed Antonelli first with 219 points after Hungary. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton entered the summer break second with 169 points, leaving the Mercedes driver with a 50-point championship advantage.