Championship leader Antonelli sneaks into Barcelona grandstands disguised as Spider-Man during FP1

Kimi Antonelli swapped his cockpit for the grandstands during first practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Friday, watching the session incognito in a Spider-Man mask and a Mercedes hoodie while reserve driver Frederik Vesti took his place in the car.

Formula 1 confirmed the stunt by releasing behind-the-scenes footage of the Italian, who is currently the championship leader, joining fans in the stands to observe the on-track action. “Hey guys, as you know, I’m not doing FP1 today, but I’m going to be going around the track as Spider-Man,” Antonelli told the camera before heading out. “I’m going to check out some cars.”

Sharp-eyed fans had already identified the disguised figure after broadcast cameras panned to the crowds and caught the distinctive Mercedes hoodie and ill-fitting mask. Photos spread quickly across social media, with many drawing comparisons to the moment Antonelli’s team-mate George Russell wore a lucha libre wrestling mask to watch FP1 from the stadium section of the grandstands at the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix.

After returning from his undercover stint, Antonelli was clearly aware he had been caught out. “Oh my god, did I go on the broadcast or not?” he asked on camera.

Fan reactions ranged from amused to affectionate. “That was cheeky. When that came on the broadcast, I thought that the guy looked familiar!” wrote one, while another noted: “The mask was small for his face — Mercedes should have brought a bigger one.” A third summed up Antonelli’s current form with a touch of dry wit: “He’s doing sidequests now when he has a good lead.”

That lead is a substantial one. Antonelli heads the drivers’ standings by 66 points over seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, with team-mate Russell a further two points back in third. Should Antonelli convert that advantage into victory at Barcelona, it would be his sixth consecutive race win.