Kimi Antonelli has broken a karting lap record previously held by Charles Leclerc at the Pista dei Campioni circuit in Baja Sardinia. The Mercedes driver recorded a time of 42.827 seconds during Formula 1’s summer break, improving on the Ferrari driver’s previous benchmark of 43.00 seconds.
The achievement created an unusual long-distance contest between two Formula 1 drivers enjoying time away from the championship. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc were among several familiar paddock figures spotted in Sardinia as the drivers and teams took advantage of the August break before racing resumes at Zandvoort.
Formula 1 stars spend their summer break in Sardinia
Several prominent Formula 1 figures have been photographed along the coast of Sardinia in recent days. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff met both Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen while out on a boat, with the two drivers also moored in the northern part of the island. Photographs of Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff holidaying in Sardinia subsequently attracted considerable attention during the summer break.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was spotted in Santa Maria Navarrese on the eastern coast of Ogliastra. The Ferrari driver arrived aboard Sedici, his 30-metre Riva yacht, accompanied by his wife Alexandra and a group of friends.
Charles Leclerc also walked through the village and stopped to pose for photographs with several supporters. However, the Monegasque driver’s name soon appeared in another Sardinian story after his karting record was surpassed by one of Formula 1’s leading young talents.
Kimi Antonelli breaks Charles Leclerc’s karting record
On the evening of Thursday, 30 July, the Pista dei Campioni kart circuit in Baja Sardinia, less than 10 kilometres from Porto Cervo, published a post celebrating Kimi Antonelli’s latest visit to the track.
The Mercedes driver took to the circuit and broke the previous record established by Charles Leclerc, setting a lap time of 42.827 seconds compared with the Ferrari driver’s 43.00-second benchmark.
“Every year, we are happy to see Kimi Antonelli return to our track, and every time he manages to leave us with something special,” the circuit wrote.
“This time, he wrote a new chapter: he beat Charles Leclerc’s previous record, stopping the clock at 42.827 seconds compared with 43.00 seconds. Numbers aside, what remains is the passion, the smile and the emotion of seeing such a great talent experience our track. Thank you, Kimi, for returning again this year.”
When does Formula 1 return after the summer break?
Formula 1 will have three consecutive race-free Sundays during August before the championship resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort will take place from 21 to 23 August, with the main race scheduled for Sunday, 23 August.
The championship will then travel to Italy for the unmissable Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 6 September. The historic race at the Temple of Speed remains one of the most iconic events on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, particularly for Ferrari and its passionate home supporters.
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