An uninterrupted climb built on talent, dedication, and extraordinary determination. Let’s discover Gabriele Minì, born in 2005 and originally from Marineo, a small town in the province of Palermo. From his first experiences in karts to his arrival in Formula 2 under the wing of the Alpine Academy, Minì has established himself as one of the most brilliant Italian motorsport talents of recent years.
Deep roots and the first encounter with engines
Gabriele’s history with the racing world stems from the love for engines that has always characterized his family. His father, a driver who competed in slalom racing, passed down this passion from birth, along with his grandfather and uncle. For his first birthday, his father gave him a real kart: an object that for a long time occupied a highly visible spot in little Gabriele’s bedroom.
Initially, the noise of the running engine scared him, bringing a few timid tears. But that initial fear quickly turned into a great passion.
The first lap in an empty parking lot
At just two and a half years old, Gabriele could no longer stay away from his kart. He was obsessed with the idea of getting in and trying to drive it. When it became clear that his enthusiasm was bigger than his stature, as he was still too short to reach the pedals, his father decided to adapt the vehicle to allow him to try it.
It was in an empty parking lot that Gabriele took the first steps of what would become his racing career.
The journey in karts
The first phase of Gabriele’s career developed on karting circuits, where he quickly demonstrated a natural instinct for driving. In 2016 and 2017, he won the Italian Championship title in the 60 Mini category, consolidating his reputation internationally by winning the WSK Super Master championship, first in the 60 Mini category and later in the OKJ class.
During this period of development, a crucial turning point came with his move to the official Parolin Motorsport team, led by Marco Parolin. One of the most prestigious names in world karting placed its faith in his talent, providing him with the opportunity and the support needed to compete consistently at the highest level of European competition. It was within the Parolin garage that Gabriele truly came of age as a racing driver.
In 2019, he stood out at the FIA Karting European Championship OK, where he finished second overall and won the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. His performances did not go unnoticed: Nicolas Todt, the famous driver manager of stars like Charles Leclerc, decided to sign him to his team. A move that would open the doors to even greater challenges for Gabriele.
A record-breaking debut
The year 2020 marked Minì’s highly anticipated jump into single-seaters, featuring a stunning debut. Racing for the PREMA team, Gabriele dominated the Italian F4 Championship, securing 12 podiums and 4 victories out of 21 races.
His triumph crowned him as the youngest champion in the category’s history at just fifteen years old.
Steady progress in Formula Regional
Between 2021 and 2022, the young sicilian driver continued his upward trajectory in the Formula Regional European Championship, racing with the ART GP team. After a transitional first year adjusting to the series, which he finished in seventh place overall, he proved his growth in 2022.
With nine podiums conquered throughout the season, Gabriele Minì finished the championship in second place, confirming his status as one of the most promising talents of his generation.
The rise to Formula 3: a protagonist among the greats
In 2023, he entered Formula 3 with the Hitech Grand Prix team, coinciding with the start of his official collaboration with the Alpine Academy.
The debut in F3 could not have been more spectacular: he took the pole position and the victory in Monaco in the Feature Race. A second success came at the Hungaroring, in the Sprint Race, despite many unlucky episodes during the season. At the end of the year, Gabriele impressed even more at the Macau Grand Prix, claiming an extraordinary third-place finish.
The world championship heartbreak at Monza
In 2024, he raced for Prema in Formula 3, a year in which Gabriele Minì came incredibly close to winning the world title. The dream slipped away at Monza by a single point, on the very last corner of the final lap. His title rival, Leonardo Fornaroli, managed to overtake Christian Mansell at the Parabolica.
This overtake handed the title to Fornaroli and cost Gabriele the world championship, though he remained fully aware that he had given absolutely everything he could.
The present in Formula 2 and the championship leadership
This growth leads to his present in Formula 2. After a flash debut in Baku at the end of 2024 with Prema, securing an immediate podium in the Sprint race, Minì made the definitive jump to the category starting in 2025. Today, in 2026, the Sicilian talent defends the colors of the MP Motorsport team.
In this early part of the season, Minì managed to find his first victory in the Feature Race in Miami, crossing the finish line ahead of Beganovic and Camara. This performance propelled him to the top of the Formula 2 world standings, where he currently holds a slim one-point lead over his rival, Tsolov.
What does the future hold?
Leading the Formula 2 championship proves his undeniable skills. The present with MP Motorsport represents the final crucial step before the big leap. With the continuous and solid support of the Alpine team, the future for the 21-year-old from Palermo is clearly aimed toward a seat in Formula 1.
In parallel with his Formula 2 campaign, Gabriele Minì’s talent has also attracted attention beyond Formula 1, with several opportunities and tests in Formula E further confirming the high regard in which he is held within the international motorsport scene.
The path traveled so far shows that his speed and determination remain exactly the same as when, as a child, he took his very first steps in the silence of that parking lot in his native Sicily.
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