Kimi Antonelli, the current Formula 1 champion, took the spotlight at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a high‑speed run up the famous hillclimb.
Antonelli fired up the Mercedes‑AMG PureSpeed, a stripped‑down, halo‑equipped two‑seat machine that relies on a 4.0‑litre twin‑turbo V8. The car delivers 800 Nm of torque, can sprint from 0‑100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, and climbs past 315 km/h at the top. Only 250 of these exclusive vehicles exist, giving the event a rare showcase of cutting‑edge performance.
Despite receiving advice to ease off, the Italian driver ignored the counsel, testing the limits of both driver and machine. He remarked that the day was his first time, that the experience of surrounding classic race cars felt “so cool,” and that he plans to return next year for a deeper immersion.
The PureSpeed comes paired with two aerodynamic helmets featuring intercoms and music systems, custom‑tailored to match the car’s colour scheme. The studio’s choice of kits, gear and kit‑in‑a‑kitchen‑style funrides were complemented by Antonelli’s outspoken ambition to take his weekend more seriously the following year.
During the same week, Antonelli had also visited Wimbledon and conducted tyre testing at Silverstone, rounding off an eventful schedule that emphasized his status as the 2026 Formula 1 championship leader.
As the event closes, Antonelli’s debut signals a new chapter for the festival, hinting that more former and current Formula 1 talent will soon line up to test their legs on Goodwood’s historic hill.
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