Antonio Giovinazzi

Champion in his rookie season

Born in December 1993 in Martina Franca in southern Italy, Giovinazzi competed in karting events from 2005 until 2012. After recording numerous victories and winning several karting titles, he progressed to single-seater racing in 2012.

His first championship in racing cars was Formula Pilota China, a series using Abarth-powered single-seaters. Giovinazzi won six races during the season and secured the championship title in dominant fashion.

He also participated as a guest driver in the final round of the Formula Abarth European Series, winning two of the three races he entered.

British Formula 3 vice-champion in 2013

Giovinazzi continued his rise through the junior categories in 2013, competing in both British and European Formula 3.

Driving a Dallara-Mercedes for Double R Racing, he won two races and finished second in the British Formula 3 International Series.

The same team entered his car in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Giovinazzi completed his rookie season without a victory or podium and finished 17th in the standings. In November 2013, he made his debut at the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, finishing 16th.

Two Formula 3 seasons with Carlin

In 2014, Giovinazzi joined Carlin to drive the #19 Jagonya Ayam-sponsored Dallara-Volkswagen in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

His first championship victory came during the eighth round at the Red Bull Ring. He added another win at the Nürburgring in the following round. With two victories and seven podium finishes, Giovinazzi ended the season sixth in the championship.

He remained with Carlin in 2015 and emerged as one of the leading drivers in European Formula 3. Giovinazzi recorded six victories and 20 podiums, finishing second in the championship behind Felix Rosenqvist.

Giovinazzi also won the non-championship Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort and finished fourth at the Macau Grand Prix.

DTM debut with Audi

In August 2015, Giovinazzi made his Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters debut with Audi Sport Team Phoenix at Moscow Raceway. He replaced Timo Scheider, who had been excluded from the event.

Driving the #93 Audi RS5 DTM, Giovinazzi finished 19th in the first race and 21st in the second.

In January 2016, he also made his sports car racing debut by participating in two Asian Le Mans Series races with Jagonya Ayam Eurasia. Sharing the #9 Oreca 03R LMP2 prototype with Sean Gelael, Giovinazzi won races in Thailand and Malaysia.

GP2 Series runner-up in 2016

In 2016, Giovinazzi took the next step on the international single-seater ladder by joining Prema Racing in the GP2 Series.

Despite being a rookie, he immediately challenged for the championship. His teammate Pierre Gasly eventually secured the title, with Giovinazzi finishing second, only eight points behind the French driver.

Giovinazzi won five races during the season, including both races at Baku. His performances established him as a serious Formula One prospect and strengthened his relationship with Ferrari.

He also made three sports car appearances during 2016. In April, he drove a BR01-Nissan LMP2 prototype for SMP Racing in the opening round of the European Le Mans Series, finishing fifth at Silverstone.

Later in the year, Giovinazzi joined Extreme Speed Motorsports for two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship. He finished fourth in the LMP2 class at Fuji and second at Shanghai.

Unexpected Formula One debut with Sauber

For the 2017 season, Giovinazzi was appointed as a test and reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari. He also participated in pre-season testing with the Ferrari-powered Sauber F1 Team.

His Formula One debut came unexpectedly at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Giovinazzi replaced Pascal Wehrlein, who was still recovering from injuries suffered in a Race of Champions accident.

Starting 16th, Giovinazzi completed his first Grand Prix in 12th place in the #36 Sauber C36, two laps behind race winner Sebastian Vettel.

He remained in the car for the Chinese Grand Prix. Giovinazzi crashed during qualifying and retired from the race following another accident on the fourth lap.

Test and reserve driver for Ferrari, Haas and Sauber

After Wehrlein returned to the Sauber cockpit, Giovinazzi continued working with Ferrari.

During the second half of the 2017 season, he joined Haas F1 Team for a series of Friday practice appearances. Beginning at Silverstone, he participated in seven Grand Prix practice sessions for the American team.

Giovinazzi remained closely involved with Ferrari and its customer teams in 2018. Although he had hoped to secure a race seat with Sauber, the team retained Marcus Ericsson alongside Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc.

Giovinazzi instead worked as Sauber's third and reserve driver while also performing reserve and development duties for Scuderia Ferrari.

First full-time Formula One season in 2019

Giovinazzi finally secured a full-time Formula One seat for the 2019 season, joining Kimi Räikkönen at the team formerly known as Sauber, which had been renamed Alfa Romeo Racing.

The beginning of his rookie campaign was difficult, particularly as he adapted to Formula One while being measured against the vastly experienced Räikkönen. However, Giovinazzi became more competitive as the season progressed and scored his first Formula One point by finishing tenth at the Austrian Grand Prix.

He added another point in Singapore and briefly led the race during the pit-stop cycle, becoming the first Italian driver to lead a Formula One Grand Prix since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2009.

Giovinazzi recorded the best result of his Formula One career at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He finished fifth, directly behind Räikkönen, as Alfa Romeo secured an important double points finish.

He ended the season 17th in the Drivers' Championship with 14 points.

Second season with Alfa Romeo in 2020

Giovinazzi remained alongside Räikkönen for the 2020 Formula One season. Alfa Romeo struggled with an uncompetitive car, and points-scoring opportunities were limited for both drivers.

Giovinazzi scored points at the opening Austrian Grand Prix, finishing ninth after starting from 18th on the grid. He added another point with tenth place at the Eifel Grand Prix and matched that result at Imola.

One of his strengths during the season was his performance at the start of races. Giovinazzi repeatedly gained positions on the opening lap, using sharp reactions and decisive positioning to compensate for the car's lack of outright pace.

He ended the season 17th in the Drivers' Championship with four points, level with Räikkönen. Alfa Romeo finished eighth in the Constructors' Championship.

Final Formula One season in 2021

Alfa Romeo retained the same driver line-up for the 2021 season, giving Giovinazzi a third full campaign in Formula One.

Although the team remained near the rear of the grid, Giovinazzi delivered several impressive qualifying performances. He reached the final qualifying session at Zandvoort and started the Dutch Grand Prix from seventh place, the best grid position of his Formula One career.

His first point of the season came with tenth place at the Monaco Grand Prix. He later added another point by finishing tenth in Saudi Arabia.

Giovinazzi completed the season with three points and finished 18th in the Drivers' Championship. Alfa Romeo announced before the final rounds that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu would form its 2022 line-up, bringing Giovinazzi's three-year spell as a full-time Formula One driver to an end.

His final race for the team was the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A technical problem forced him to retire, but his Formula One record stood at 62 starts, 21 points and a career-best finish of fifth.

One season in Formula E

After leaving the Formula One grid, Giovinazzi moved to the FIA Formula E World Championship for the 2021-22 season.

He joined Dragon/Penske Autosport alongside Sérgio Sette Câmara. The move presented a very different challenge, as Giovinazzi had to adapt to an all-electric single-seater, energy management and Formula E's compact street circuits.

The season proved difficult for both driver and team. Giovinazzi failed to score a championship point and completed only seven of the 15 races he started.

His best qualifying performance came at the London E-Prix, where he reached the duel stage and secured third place on the grid. However, that result did not translate into a points finish.

Giovinazzi left Formula E after one season and redirected his racing career towards Ferrari's new endurance programme.

Ferrari Formula One reserve driver

Giovinazzi maintained his long-standing relationship with Ferrari after leaving his Alfa Romeo race seat.

He continued as a Scuderia Ferrari reserve driver while supporting the team's simulator and development work. His experience with modern Formula One machinery made him a valuable option whenever Ferrari required an experienced replacement or test driver.

During 2022, Giovinazzi also returned to the Formula One paddock for two practice sessions with Haas, driving at the Italian and United States Grands Prix.

Ferrari retained him in its reserve driver group in subsequent seasons. In 2026, Giovinazzi continues to combine his Scuderia Ferrari reserve responsibilities with his factory endurance racing programme.

Joining Ferrari's 499P Hypercar programme

Ferrari selected Giovinazzi for its return to the top category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023.

He joined Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado in the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. The new Le Mans Hypercar marked Ferrari's return to the highest level of prototype endurance racing after an absence of half a century.

Giovinazzi's earlier experience in LMP2 machinery helped him adapt to endurance racing, but the 499P represented a major step forward in complexity and performance. The four-wheel-drive hybrid prototype demanded speed, consistency, traffic management and close cooperation between all three drivers.

Ferrari immediately demonstrated that the 499P could challenge the established Toyota team. Giovinazzi became particularly effective in qualifying, where his single-lap speed helped place the #51 car near the front of the Hypercar field.

Antonio Giovinazzi wins the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans

The defining moment of Giovinazzi's career came at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the centenary edition of the famous endurance race.

Giovinazzi placed the #51 Ferrari 499P on pole position, giving Ferrari the ideal starting position for its return to the top class. He shared the car with Pier Guidi and Calado against a field that included Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot.

The race developed into a close contest between the #51 Ferrari and the #8 Toyota. Ferrari remained in contention through changing weather, safety-car periods, traffic and several moments that threatened to end its challenge.

A late problem during the final pit stop briefly raised concerns when the Ferrari was slow to restart. The car eventually returned to the circuit, allowing Pier Guidi to complete the final stint and secure an historic victory.

Giovinazzi, Pier Guidi and Calado gave Ferrari its first outright victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1965. The result was especially significant because it came during Ferrari's first attempt after returning to the race's premier category.

For Giovinazzi, the victory transformed the direction of his career. After three difficult seasons in the midfield and at the back of the Formula One grid, he had become a central figure in one of Ferrari's most important motorsport achievements.

Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado won the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ferrari.

Second WEC season and another Le Mans podium in 2024

Ferrari retained the same Hypercar driver line-ups for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Giovinazzi, Pier Guidi and Calado returned in the #51 Ferrari 499P and remained regular contenders at the front of the Hypercar field.

The trio could not repeat its overall Le Mans victory, but it returned to the podium with third place. The sister #50 Ferrari of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen won the race, completing a second consecutive Le Mans triumph for the 499P.

Giovinazzi also demonstrated his qualifying speed by securing pole position for the Lone Star Le Mans race at the Circuit of the Americas. However, a spin and subsequent technical problem prevented the #51 crew from converting that starting position into a strong result.

The car crossed the line second at the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain, but a post-race tyre allocation penalty dropped it to 14th in the final classification.

FIA World Endurance Champion in 2025

The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship became another landmark season in Giovinazzi's career.

He began the year by securing pole position for the opening race in Qatar. Giovinazzi also claimed Hyperpole at Imola, where the #51 Ferrari converted its speed into victory in front of the Italian supporters.

Giovinazzi, Pier Guidi and Calado followed that success with another win at Spa-Francorchamps. Their combination of speed and consistency established them as the leading crew in the championship.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #51 Ferrari remained part of Ferrari's challenge but did not repeat its 2023 victory. The privately entered #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P won the race, continuing the model's unbeaten Le Mans record since its debut.

The championship battle continued until the final round in Bahrain. Antonio Giovinazzi, Pier Guidi and Calado finished fourth in the eight-hour race, which was sufficient to secure the FIA World Endurance Drivers' Championship.

The #51 crew ended the season 16 points ahead of the #83 Ferrari trio of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson. Giovinazzi and Pier Guidi also became the first Italian drivers to win the top-class FIA World Endurance Drivers' title.

The championship represented another major achievement for Antonio Giovinazzi and confirmed his successful transition from Formula One to endurance racing.

Antonio Giovinazzi in 2026

Giovinazzi entered the 2026 season as the defending FIA World Endurance Drivers' Champion.

Ferrari retained the successful #51 crew for a fourth consecutive season, with Giovinazzi again sharing the 499P with Pier Guidi and Calado. The trio continued to represent Ferrari AF Corse in the Hypercar category.

Alongside his endurance programme, Antonio Giovinazzi remained one of Scuderia Ferrari's Formula One reserve drivers. His multi-year agreement with Ferrari reflects the importance of his role across the manufacturer's racing activities.

By this stage of his career, Giovinazzi had established himself as much more than a former Formula One driver. His achievements with Ferrari included an outright Le Mans victory, a World Endurance Championship title and an important role in the development and success of the 499P programme.

Antonio Giovinazzi's driving style

Antonio Giovinazzi has demonstrated adaptability across a wide variety of racing cars, including Formula 3 machinery, GP2 single-seaters, Formula One cars, Formula E cars, DTM touring cars and endurance prototypes.

During his Formula One career, he became known for strong starts and increasingly competitive qualifying performances. His ability to deliver a quick lap has remained one of his greatest strengths in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where he has secured several important Hyperpole results for Ferrari.

Endurance racing also highlighted other aspects of his driving. Competing in the 499P required Giovinazzi to manage tyres, energy, traffic and changing conditions while maintaining consistent lap times over long stints.

His performances with Ferrari have shown that his speed is matched by the discipline and technical understanding required from a factory endurance driver.

Major Antonio Giovinazzi career achievements

• 2012 Formula Pilota China champion
• 2013 British Formula 3 International Series runner-up
• 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship runner-up
• 2015 Masters of Formula 3 winner
• 2016 GP2 Series runner-up
• Five-time GP2 race winner
• 62 Formula One Grand Prix starts
• Best Formula One finish of fifth at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix
• 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner
• Third place at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans
• 2025 FIA World Endurance Drivers' Champion
• Ferrari Formula One reserve driver

Antonio Giovinazzi career timeline

Antonio Giovinazzi's career has followed an unusual path. He came close to winning several major junior single-seater championships, reached Formula One with Ferrari's support and spent three full seasons racing for Alfa Romeo.

His greatest success, however, came after leaving the Formula One grid. As a Ferrari factory endurance driver, Giovinazzi helped return the manufacturer to the top of the podium at Le Mans and later added a world championship title.

Those achievements have secured his place in Ferrari's modern motorsport history and transformed him into one of the most successful Italian racing drivers of his generation.