Kimi Antonelli's Racing Setup Costs Over €50,000: Here’s How It's Made

Kimi Antonelli, the young Formula 1 driver, has invested in a customized professional simulator, the Formula Pro made by the British company Cool Performance. The solution has been designed to complement intensive training, track memorization, and muscle memory refinement, without neglecting the fun during sim racing sessions with friends, particularly on iRacing.

Oliver Norris, the founder of Cool Performance, described the meticulous customization of this system. Every element has been calibrated to Antonelli’s specific requests, from the internally developed pedals to the custom carbon fiber finishes. Unlike many other drivers, Antonelli preferred a static platform, choosing to focus on a high-end haptic feedback system rather than a full-motion setup.

The cost of a custom system like Antonelli's is difficult to quantify precisely, but estimates suggest a value around €52,000 (the base version of the setup offered by Cool Performance exceeds €35,000).

Under the Hood: The Hardware Configuration of the Formula Pro

The base of the simulator is a Formula Pro cockpit, characterized by a powder-coated aluminum frame, hand-assembled in the UK according to ISO 9001 standards, with a lifetime warranty. The seat is a custom fiberglass model with hand-stitched leather upholstery, designed to replicate the ergonomics of a single-seater.

For driving simulation, Antonelli relies on a CP-S Leo Bodnar Ultimate Simsteering system of 26Nm, paired with a replica steering wheel from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One team. The pedals are a custom adjustable hydraulic CP-S set, featuring fully electronic adjustment with linear bearing actuation for precise and faithful response.

The visuals are managed by a triple monitor setup, featuring three 27-inch curved Samsung Odyssey monitors capable of achieving UHD resolution and a refresh rate of 240Hz. The computing power comes from a custom gaming PC, equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card and an Intel Core i9 processor, ensuring high performance and smooth graphics.

The haptic feedback is managed by a CP-S vibration system. The software includes a CP-S bespoke setup and a complete suite of racing titles pre-installed. Extras include custom painting, embroidery, and stitching on the seat, as well as a carbon fiber finishes package. The project is visible on the official page of Cool Performance.

Technical Specifications of Formula Pro Simulator

Cockpit: Powder-coated aluminum frame Formula Pro, hand-built in the UK to ISO 9001 standards, with lifetime warranty.
Seat: Custom fiberglass seat with hand-stitched leather covering.
Steering Base: CP-S Leo Bodnar Ultimate Simsteering system at 26 Nm.
Steering Wheel: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel.
Pedal Set: Custom adjustable hydraulic CP-S pedal set.
Pedal Adjustment: Fully electronic adjustment with linear bearing actuation.
Display: Triple configuration with 27" curved Samsung Odyssey UHD monitors at 240Hz.
PC: Custom gaming setup (Nvidia RTX 5080 / Intel Core i9).
Haptic Feedback: CP-S haptic vibration system.
Software: Tailor-made CP-S configuration and complete driving title suite.
Extras: Custom painting and livery / custom stitching and embroidery on the seat / carbon fiber travel kit.

The presentation video also offers exclusive glimpses of the simulator installation at Kimi Antonelli's home, showcasing his initial reactions to driving and the details of the setup in action.