Kimi Antonelli could become the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history at the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin, but before travelling to Texas, the Mercedes driver has one unusual appointment he refuses to miss. The 20-year-old Italian heads to a car wash in San Marino, where he personally cleans his Mercedes-AMG GT63, both inside and out, as part of a routine he follows before every Grand Prix.
Rather than using an automatic car wash, Kimi Antonelli prefers to do the job himself. His presence regularly surprises other customers, who hardly expect to find a Mercedes Formula 1 driver washing his own road car alongside them. It is a simple habit that offers an insight into how the championship leader spends his time away from the pressure of racing.
“I go to the car wash. I never use the automatic one; I prefer to wash the car by hand, personally,” Kimi Antonelli explained during a meeting with journalists ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix. “People are always surprised. They say to me, ‘Oh, I never thought I’d find you here.'”
Kimi Antonelli’s pre-race car-washing ritual before every F1 Grand Prix
For Kimi Antonelli, cleaning his Mercedes has become a fixed part of his preparation for each race weekend. It is something he enjoys doing himself, and he intended to follow the same routine before departing for Austin.
“It’s a routine. Before every race weekend, I go to the car wash,” the Mercedes driver explained.
Nor does Kimi Antonelli settle for a quick wash. When someone asked whether he also timed how long it took to clean his car, the Italian burst out laughing.
“No, no, no,” he replied.
On this occasion, the stopwatch holds no interest for the Formula 1 driver. Instead, Kimi Antonelli prefers to take as long as necessary to make sure the job is completed properly.
“I take my time because the job has to be done well.”
Drying the car is the part of the process that receives the most attention. If even a few drops of water remain on the bodywork, Kimi Antonelli feels that the vehicle still looks dirty. He therefore dries it carefully before turning his attention to cleaning the interior.
The routine has become one of the activities he particularly enjoys when returning home. It also gives him an opportunity to focus on something other than Formula 1, especially at a time when the championship battle is approaching a potentially decisive moment.
Why Kimi Antonelli tries to switch off from the F1 championship
Despite his position at the top of the Formula 1 standings, Kimi Antonelli is determined not to allow the championship situation to dominate every part of his daily life. The Italian has explained that constantly thinking about the title battle could make him anxious and prevent him from enjoying his free time.
Washing his Mercedes provides a welcome distraction from those thoughts. The activity requires attention and patience, but unlike racing, there is no need to chase lap times or compete against anyone else.
That distinction is particularly relevant ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, where Kimi Antonelli arrives with his first mathematical opportunity to secure the world championship.
Kimi Antonelli enjoys a normal life in San Marino despite F1 fame
Although his Formula 1 success has brought increasing recognition, Kimi Antonelli continues to maintain many of the habits he developed before becoming a leading driver in the championship.
The Italian lives in San Marino, where he feels comfortable partly because the community is small and many people already know him.
“I like San Marino because it’s very small and practically everyone knows each other,” Kimi Antonelli explained.
Living there allows him to go out without constantly being stopped for photographs. He can do his shopping, visit the cinema and spend time with friends, whether watching sport at a pub or going bowling.
Taking care of his own car remains another part of that ordinary routine. Even as he approaches the possibility of making Formula 1 history, Kimi Antonelli continues to enjoy activities that have little to do with his life as a Mercedes racing driver.
Kimi Antonelli’s earlier pre-race superstitions revealed
The car-washing routine is not the first unusual habit Kimi Antonelli has discussed publicly. The current Formula 1 championship leader previously spoke to Fanpage.it about several superstitions he followed before races.
During an exclusive interview in 2022, when he was just 16 years old, Kimi Antonelli revealed that he was highly superstitious. He would always arrange his clothes in the same order and made a point of entering and exiting his car from the left-hand side.
He also insisted on using the same pair of racing gloves throughout the season, unless they became damaged and needed replacing.
However, Kimi Antonelli does not regard washing his Mercedes as a good-luck ritual. For him, it is simply an enjoyable activity that helps him relax and switch off from the demands of racing.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Austin with 102-point F1 championship lead
That opportunity to escape the pressure comes at a significant moment in Kimi Antonelli’s career. The 20-year-old arrives at the United States Grand Prix leading Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 102 points in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
The advantage gives Kimi Antonelli his first mathematical opportunity to secure the world title, potentially making him the youngest world champion in the sport’s history.
Yet while the stakes at Austin could hardly be higher, the Italian intends to maintain the same simple routine he follows before every race weekend. His visit to the car wash is not about superstition or gaining an advantage on the circuit. It is about enjoying a familiar activity and finding a moment of normality before returning to the intense competition of Formula 1.
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