Mercedes' Antonelli Goes Undercover as 'Henry Shovlin' for Karting Session

Mercedes F1 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli followed in Max Verstappen's footsteps by taking part in an undercover karting session during the winter break, appearing under the pseudonym 'Henry Shovlin' at a UK circuit and dominating the field in wet conditions.

Why it matters:

These low-profile outings offer a rare glimpse into a driver's pure passion for racing away from the intense spotlight of Formula 1. For a highly-touted rookie like Antonelli, it demonstrates a commitment to honing his craft during the off-season and connecting with the grassroots of motorsport, all while having a bit of fun with a clever alias that nods to his team's engineering chief.

The details:

• Antonelli visited the Daytona Motorsport karting circuit in Milton Keynes on the first Saturday of the F1 winter break.
• He entered under the name 'Henry Shovlin', a playful reference to Mercedes' long-serving trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin.
• According to the circuit's social media post, he kept a low profile with his cap down and sat quietly through the briefing before the race.
• Once on track, he was in a league of his own, setting the fastest lap of the race—a 1:24.5—which was three seconds quicker than any other driver in wet conditions.
• His time was also reported to be over five seconds faster than a previous lap set by Williams driver Alex Albon at the same venue.

The big picture:

Antonelli's covert karting day mirrors a similar stunt pulled by Max Verstappen earlier in 2025, when the Red Bull champion tested a GT car at the Nürburgring under the alias 'Franz Hermann'. This trend highlights how top drivers seek anonymous competition to stay sharp. The Daytona circuit's leaderboard, which Antonelli posed beside, reads like a who's who, featuring other F1 names like Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar, alongside celebrities from other sports and entertainment, underscoring the venue's popularity as a racing playground for the famous.

What's next:

The off-season session comes after a promising but challenging rookie year for Antonelli, who finished seventh in the standings. As he prepares for his second F1 campaign with Mercedes in 2026, these informal runs help maintain race sharpness. With the new season months away, fans can expect more drivers to pop up in unexpected racing series or trackside events as they balance rest with their relentless competitive drive.