Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver, is known for his jokes with the team. On September 3, 2026, he received unusual change in the paddock of the Monza Autodrome, in Italy, being surprised with pies on his face and uniform. The action took place a week after he turned 20 years old, on August 25th.
How the Mercedes mechanics played with the driver
Before the pies, the Italian pilot was received with “happy birthday” messages in a humorous tone. One of the team members also squirted water on Kimi, who joked: “Man, I’m blind from the pie.”
On social media, the Mercedes team itself joined in on the fun. In one post, the team wrote: “Revenge is a dish best served with cream. Happy birthday, Kimi!”
The incident marks a “revenge” planned by the mechanics. In May, Antonelli himself had thrown a pie in an employee’s face to celebrate his birthday, receiving an immediate response at the time. The complete change, however, has now come.
The young driver has a history of paddock antics. On several occasions, he has joked with his track engineer, Peter Bonnington, affectionately nicknamed “Bono”. Videos show Antonelli using a water pistol and blocking the engineer’s badge.
Despite the relaxed moment, Antonelli is preparing for a serious challenge in Formula 1. He will race at home, in Monza, for the second time in the category, but will face a start at the back of the grid due to a penalty for changing the engine. Even with this obstacle, Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 242 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, with 183, and George Russell.
