Andrea Kimi Antonelli is laughing it off, and Mercedes is playing right along, transforming the infamous “towel scandal” into a viral running joke. The young Italian driver recently received a gift towel embroidered with the words “For Kimi from Kim”—a hilarious nod to what went down at the Monaco Grand Prix. During the post-race celebrations in the Principality, Kim Kardashian, who was near the podium area to congratulate “her” driver Lewis Hamilton (who finished second), grabbed the towel specifically reserved for the race winner and used it to wipe away some sweat. The gesture did not go unnoticed, immediately flooding social media with gossip and triggering incredibly fierce criticism from the British tabloids regarding the former model’s presence on the grid. Since then, both the Bologna-born driver and his team have happily fueled the fire of the viral episode.
Kimi Antonelli chose the path of humor to entertain his followers and racing fans on social media. He published a video where he appears at various moments throughout his day, repeatedly asking the exact same question: “Have you seen my towel?” He repeats it multiple times, even asking a completely bewildered George Russell, who gracefully plays along with the prank and simply replies, “No, I haven’t seen it.” While the tone is completely lighthearted, the reference to the Kim Kardashian incident was immediately obvious to everyone in the paddock.
The press conference joke: “I’m still looking for it”
The running gag did not just stay confined to social media. On the media eve of the Barcelona Grand Prix, journalists put Kimi Antonelli on the spot by asking him the fateful question: “Did you ever find your towel?” The reply came amidst widespread laughter in the media center: “No, I’m still looking for it.” It was a witty comeback that further amplified the social media phenomenon, proving that the Mercedes driver is more than happy to deflate the media storm and treat the situation with extreme lightness compared to the massive uproar originally manufactured by the press.
The initial internet storm had erupted due to the intense backlash from Antonelli’s fanbase and hardcore F1 purists. At the conclusion of every Grand Prix, protocol dictates that a specific towel is set aside for the race winner so they can dry off after the traditional champagne spraying on the podium. Kim Kardashian, entirely unaware of this specific post-race protocol, simply walked off with it. To this day, nobody actually knows where the original piece of podium merchandise ended up. However, thanks to these newly minted towels embroidered with “For Kimi from Kim,” the message is loud and clear—just in case anyone still had a single doubt about who the rightful owner should be.
A special delivery for Kimi… from Kim 👀#F1 #BarcelonaGP @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/1lHB0bucG0
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2026
In summary, the lighthearted banter between Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes over the Kim Kardashian towel incident highlights the new generation of Formula 1 drivers’ ability to navigate social media virality with ease. By leaning into the humor of the Monaco blunder rather than letting paddock gossip turn into a distraction, the teenage sensation has shown remarkable maturity and charisma ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. As Mercedes continues to foster a relaxed yet highly competitive environment within the garage, these viral interactions show how modern F1 successfully bridges elite motorsport with global pop culture without losing its sporting identity.
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