Mercedes signs 11-year-old Italian prospect Perico

Mercedes has officially signed 11-year-old Niccolò Perico, a promising karting talent from Italy, to their junior program. Perico has an impressive karting record, having won several championships and titles, including the Trofeo delle Industrie and the Italian ACI Karting championship in the Mini U10 category. His recent successes in the 2026 WSK Super Master Series further highlight his potential as a rising star in motorsport.

Perico, who is the son of rally driver Alessandro Perico, has been recognized for his exceptional skills and is currently racing with Kart Republic. Mercedes sees significant long-term potential in him, with expectations that he will soon step up to the OKJ category. While comparisons to Kimi Antonelli are made, it is acknowledged that Perico has many years of development ahead before reaching Formula 1.