Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the sports star of the moment. After winning the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship with Mercedes, at just twenty years old he became the champion everyone is talking about around the world. His success brought the drivers’ title back to Italy 73 years after Alberto Ascari’s last triumph and has turned the spotlight not only on his performance on the track but also on his life off the racetrack.
One of the most intriguing aspects is his travel by private jet. What kind of plane does the young champion use? How much does a private flight like the one from Rimini to Liège—for the Belgian Grand Prix—cost? And how do the other Formula 1 drivers arrange their travel when they need to get from one circuit to another?
Why Kimi Antonelli flies by private jet
Antonelli himself spoke about his travel habits in an interview in which he explained the reasons behind his decision.
For longer trips, he prefers commercial flights, while he uses private jets to travel to Mercedes’ headquarters in the United Kingdom and attend European Grand Prix races.
The motivation is primarily practical: being able to decide when to leave, avoiding layovers and long waits at airports, and arriving at the destination with greater flexibility. For a top athlete who has to juggle competitions, training sessions, and team commitments, even the time spent traveling affects how the season is organized.
There is one statistic that particularly highlights the extent to which travel has shaped his professional life: Antonelli said he spent about 26 days on a plane over the course of a year.
His success on the track has naturally also increased the economic value of his image. According to estimates reported by ANSA, the Mercedes contract provided for a base salary of about 2–3 million euros per season. With performance-based bonuses, his compensation in 2026 could approach 10 million euros. In addition to these amounts, there are advertising deals and sponsorships, which represent a separate source of income.
The Cessna Citation CJ2+ that Antonelli flew to Liège
A concrete example comes from the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix.
Photographer and reporter Kym Illman documented the drivers’ arrivals in Liège, one of the airports used to reach the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Among the private jets photographed was the one that brought Kimi Antonelli: a Cessna CitationJet CJ2+, which took off from Rimini.
This is a light jet designed for short- and medium-range flights, making it particularly well-suited for travel within Europe.
The CitationJet CJ2+ can carry up to 7 passengers, depending on the configuration, and reaches a cruising speed of approximately 760 km/h. Its compact size compared to jets in higher categories allows it to operate from airports that cannot accommodate larger aircraft.
According to Illman’s account, the flight from Rimini to Liège took about two hours. The photographer also estimated the cost of that trip at about 12,000 euros.
The Other F1 Drivers and Their Private Jets
Private aviation is quite common in the Formula 1 paddock. However, owning a private jet and using a charter service are two very different things. Not all drivers own a jet, and some prefer to share flights with colleagues and associates.
Max Verstappen: His Own Falcon 8X
One of the best-known examples is that of Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion and owner of a Dassault Falcon 8X. It is a long-range business jet with a range of approximately 12,000 kilometers and a capacity of up to 16–18 passengers, depending on the configuration. The aircraft’s value is estimated to be in the range of $50–60 million.
Lewis Hamilton also owned a private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 605, which he sold in 2019. The decision was also linked to his desire to reduce the environmental impact of his travel. This has not prevented him from continuing to use private flights when necessary.
A curious story involves Hamilton and his Argentine fellow driver Franco Colapinto. In June 2025, after the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton offered Colapinto a seat on the private jet he was taking to England. The young Argentine had initially planned to take an EasyJet flight, but he enthusiastically accepted the seven-time world champion’s invitation. He later recounted that it had been his first time aboard a private jet.
Norris, Piastri, and Russell: One Citation CJ4 for the Three of Them
Sharing flights is no exception. For the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell traveled to the circuit aboard the same Cessna Citation CJ4, departing from Nice. Norris and Piastri race for McLaren, while Russell is Antonelli’s teammate at Mercedes: an example of how even drivers from different teams can coordinate their travel together.
With a schedule featuring flights all over the world, sharing a charter flight allows you to split the cost of the flight among multiple passengers while maintaining the flexibility of private aviation.
How much does a private flight from Rimini to Liège cost?
Kimi Antonelli’s flight is a concrete example that illustrates how much a similar trip organized through a private jet charter service might cost.
Based on the fares published by PrivateJetFinder for the Rimini-Liège route, the starting price is:
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Light Jet: 10,850 euros, including fees and taxes.
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Medium Jet: 18,420 euros, including fees and taxes.
To check availability and current prices, you can go directly to Rimini-Liège Private Jet on PrivateJetFinder.
The price difference depends on the aircraft and the service requested.
A light jet such as the CitationJet CJ2+ can be a suitable option for small groups of passengers traveling to a European destination. A medium jet, on the other hand, offers a more spacious cabin and greater capacity—features that are appealing to those traveling with family, colleagues, or staff members.
See also: Light Jet, Medium Jet, or Large Jet—Which One Should You Rent?
Kimi Antonelli’s choice is a good example of how a private jet can be a useful tool for managing travel for those with a particularly demanding international schedule. It’s not necessary to own a plane worth tens of millions of euros: you can charter one or share the flight with other passengers, as some Formula 1 drivers do.
Fly like a champion: Get a PJF quote in just a few clicks
Kimi Antonelli chose flexibility: leaving whenever she needs to, from her own airport, without lines or layovers. You can do the same—for an exclusive weekend getaway or any other trip.
A Rimini-Liège charter flight starts at 10,850 euros in a light jet, with fees and taxes included. Please specify the departure and destination , and number of passengers on PrivateJetFinder.com: we’ll help you choose themost suitable best suited to your needs and send you a clear quote, with all cost items listed.
Contact PrivateJetFinder and request your quote now.
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