Mercedes Signs Young Karting Champion Niccolò Perico
Mercedes has welcomed 11-year-old Italian karting champion Niccolò Perico into its junior program, which has previously nurtured talents like Kimi Antonelli. Perico was spotted in the Mercedes garage at Monza, engaging with team members and wearing team colors.
Born in Alzano Lombardo in December 2014, Perico has already made a name for himself in karting, winning the Trofeo delle Industrie in Mini U10 in 2023 and the Italian ACI Karting championship in the same category the following year. His 2025 season featured victories in both the ROK Superfinal and the Champions of the Future Academy Trophy.
As he began 2026, Perico secured four wins out of five events, leading to the WSK Super Master Series OK-NJ title. Currently racing with Kart Republic, he is being guided by Mercedes as he transitions to international junior categories. Mercedes driver development adviser Gwen Lagrue noted Perico's impressive performance and anticipates that he will become the youngest driver in OKJ. While comparisons to Antonelli are natural, Lagrue emphasized that Perico has many years of karting ahead before considering a move to Formula 1.
