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Kimi Antonelli races undercover as Franz Antonelli in German event

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 16, 2026, 7:31 AM

Last updated Aug 16, 2026

Kimi Antonelli races undercover as Franz Antonelli in German event

Summary

Kimi Antonelli participated in a go-kart event in Germany under the pseudonym 'Franz Antonelli,' mimicking Max Verstappen's early career tactics. Verstappen initially used the alias 'Franz Hermann' in May 2025 for a GT outing at Nürburgring. Mercedes expressed approval of Antonelli's performance during the 2026 Formula 1 season, highlighting his consistency and maturity in just his second year. The team deputy noted his learning curve from a challenging rookie season and the impact of new regulations on drivers this year.

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Key Details

•Antonelli raced under the alias 'Franz Antonelli' in a go-kart event.
•He emulated Verstappen's tactic from his early GT outings.
•Mercedes commended Antonelli's consistent performance in the 2026 season.
•The team sees potential in Antonelli following a strong finish to his rookie year.
•New regulations have contributed to the steep learning curve for all drivers.

Latest Updates

7:31 AMYahoo Sports — 'Franz Hermann' returns to Germany – but this time it's Franz Antonelli

What they're saying

"
Kimi Antonelli has emulated the exact same move Max Verstappen pulled during his first GT outings last year, reportedly adopting the pseudonym "Franz Antonelli" to race "undercover" in a go-kart event. Max Verstappen first used the "Franz Hermann" alias in May last year, when he made his first appearance at the Nürburgring.
— Yahoo Sports

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