Championship Leader Kimi Antonelli Unveils Bespoke Mercedes Simulator Rig

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli has unveiled a bespoke home simulator built to replicate his Mercedes W17 cockpit, giving the 19-year-old Italian a precise training tool between races. The Formula Pro rig, developed by Cool Performance and installed before his victory in Canada, arrives as Antonelli heads to Austria holding a 41-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

Simulator work has become non-negotiable for modern F1 preparation, and Antonelli's custom rig removes any compromise from his between-race routine. As the youngest driver to lead the championship, his sophomore surge has already turned heads up and down the paddock. Maintaining physical familiarity with exact steering loads and seating position could prove vital in sustaining that momentum against more experienced rivals as the season intensifies.

The details:

• The rig was developed over three months with more than 150 hours of coachbuilding, tailored specifically to Antonelli's feedback to mirror his Mercedes machinery.
• A CP-S Leo Bodnar direct-drive wheelbase delivers up to 26Nm of torque through a genuine Mercedes steering wheel, calibrated to replicate the upper-body load of high-speed corners.
• The system includes a custom hydraulic pedal box and a hand-stitched leather race seat positioned exactly like his W17, with drivetrain support from Quaife Engineering.
• Antonelli joins Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and Lando Norris among ten F1 drivers who own a Cool Performance simulator, with the public version retailing from £30,600.

What's next:

Antonelli heads to this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix aiming to extend his remarkable run and stretch his championship lead even further. With a home setup that now truly mirrors his race car, the Mercedes prodigy has sharpened one more tool in his bid to convert an impressive start into a historic title challenge.