Mercedes young gun hit with surprise double penalty during off-season karting outing
A Mercedes Formula 1 driver endured an unusual double setback away from the grand prix spotlight after being penalised twice during a low-key karting race held in the winter break — an event he entered under a false name to avoid attention.
Teenage Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli quietly lined up for a karting race at Daytona Speedway in Milton Keynes, registering under the alias “Henry Shovlin”. The pseudonym was a playful nod to Mercedes’ long-time trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, and was designed to keep the Italian’s identity hidden while he enjoyed some off-season track time.
Despite his best efforts to remain anonymous, Antonelli’s raw speed quickly gave the game away. Competing against amateur and semi-professional drivers, the Mercedes youngster immediately stood out, setting the fastest lap of the entire event by a huge margin. His benchmark lap was more than three seconds quicker than anyone else on the day and reportedly over five seconds faster than the best lap previously recorded at the circuit by Williams driver Alex Albon.
However, outright pace was not enough to secure victory. Antonelli’s aggressive approach behind the wheel resulted in multiple infringements, leading to two separate penalties that ultimately cost him any chance of fighting for the win or a podium finish.
The karting appearance came shortly after Antonelli signed a new contract with Mercedes following a highly impressive rookie Formula 1 campaign. In his debut season with the Brackley-based team, the teenager exceeded expectations, playing a key role in helping Mercedes secure second place in the constructors’ championship. With the pressures of F1 temporarily behind him, Antonelli chose to return to his karting roots during the off-season — albeit incognito.
Remarkably, many of the drivers sharing the track with him had no idea they were racing an F1 star. According to those present, Antonelli’s true identity only became clear after the chequered flag had fallen, when word began to spread among competitors and staff.
Daniel Prince, a member of staff at the Daytona circuit, later explained the reason behind Antonelli’s penalties during an interview with the BBC.
“He actually picked up two penalties for pushing a bit too hard, which meant he didn’t end up on the podium,” Prince revealed. “But even with that, he still set the fastest lap of the race by at least three seconds. Once people realised who he was, he got completely mobbed. One of our staff members quickly stepped in, pulled him behind the desk for a quick photo next to our celebrity leaderboard, and then he disappeared pretty quickly.”
The scene highlighted just how difficult it can be for high-profile drivers to blend in, even in relatively modest racing environments. Despite his attempt at anonymity, Antonelli’s talent ensured that attention soon followed.
Who was “Henry Shovlin”?
“Henry Shovlin” was simply the cover name Antonelli used for the event, allowing him to compete without immediately drawing a crowd. The tactic mirrors a recent trend among top-level drivers looking to enjoy private test sessions or grassroots racing without the distraction of fans and media.
The idea itself was inspired by reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who famously adopted the alias “Franz Hermann” during a GT3 test at the Nürburgring Nordschleife earlier this year. Verstappen went to great lengths to conceal his identity, even restricting photographer access to the circuit during the test.
Antonelli’s approach was notably more relaxed. While he used a fake name on the entry list, he did not attempt to completely avoid cameras and even paused for a photograph beside the circuit’s all-time leaderboard once the race had finished.
Whether Antonelli will also follow Verstappen’s off-track business savvy remains an open question. Verstappen quickly capitalised on the unexpected popularity of his alter ego, launching Franz Hermann-themed merchandise through his Verstappen.com brand. The limited-edition T-shirts and sweaters, modelled by Verstappen himself, sold out rapidly amid the online buzz surrounding the nickname.
For Antonelli, however, the karting cameo was less about branding and more about pure enjoyment. Even with two penalties and no trophy to show for it, the Mercedes star once again demonstrated the blistering speed that has marked him out as one of Formula 1’s brightest young talents — even when racing under someone else’s name.
