Formula 1 is absolutely buzzing right now, and a big part of that excitement is an 18-year-old star. This Italian whiz kid is stepping into some seriously big shoes at Mercedes for the 2025 season, taking over from none other than seven-time world champ Lewis Hamilton. Born on August 25, 2006, Kimi’s already made history as the third-youngest driver ever in F1. He’s shot up the ranks like a rocket, from karting to Formula 4 and F2, leaving fans completely hooked and waiting to see what Kimi Antonelli does next.

Now, flip over to the track-and-field world, and you’ve got Noah Lyles. He’s not just an Olympic gold medalist sprinter; he’s also a massive gamer, deep in the esports scene, especially connected with the cool lifestyle and gaming crew, 100 Thieves. These two seemingly different worlds—the high-speed drama of motorsport and the fast-paced action of esports—unexpectedly crashed together in a cool moment on May 15, 2025, right before a major race weekend. So, how did this crossover happen?

It all kicked off with a quick snap that went viral, shared by esports journalist Jacob Hale on X. On May 15, 2025, Hale posted a photo of Antonelli arriving at the Imola paddock looking sharp. Kimi was rocking a 100 Thieves jacket, complete with their logo and an Adidas patch. Hale’s caption nailed it: “Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli rocking 100 Thieves ahead of this weekend’s Imola GP 🔥.” 

The picture, sporting the Sky Sports F1 watermark, showed Kimi with a big smile, his curly hair doing its thing, and a backpack slung over his shoulder. For F1 fans, seeing a driver openly embracing esports culture was already pretty neat. But the moment got even bigger when Noah Lyles jumped in. Just under two hours later, Lyles replied to Hale’s post with a super concise but powerful message: “Honor Amongst Thieves!” That phrase, a clear nod to 100 Thieves’ well-known slogan, sent fans wild.

But why was this particular race at Imola such a huge deal for Kimi? The Imola Grand Prix, officially known as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, is way more than just another race on the calendar for Antonelli—it’s coming home. As an Italian driver, racing at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola feels incredibly special, loaded with emotion. Kimi himself talked about how much it means in a recent chat with Formula1.com.

He said, ”I feel the weekend is going to be a special one, especially racing in front of all the Italian fans, my family, and friends. So it’s going to be intense as well, but I’m excited to hit the track tomorrow.” The 2025 Imola GP, running from May 16th to the 18th, is a massive moment for the young driver, who’s under a ton of pressure to show he’s the right person to step into Hamilton’s role.

With all of Italy watching and now getting a shoutout from a global star like Lyles, the pressure couldn’t be higher. So, how did this unexpected crossover moment land with the wider sports community?

Noah recently collaborated with 100 Thieves

So, Noah Lyles, the guy who absolutely blazed his way to Olympic gold in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Games, isn’t just about sprinting. Turns out, he’s a total gamer at heart, and his latest move proves it. Just recently, on May 7, 2025, the North American esports powerhouse 100 Thieves dropped the news about their third awesome clothing and sneaker collection with Adidas Originals—and guess who’s the face of it? Yep, Noah himself!

This cool collection, which hit both Adidas’ and 100 Thieves’ online and physical stores on May 14th, features some slick gear. Noah, who’s known to unwind by diving into some League of Legends, is the perfect person to front this. He gets that overlap between traditional sports and the esports world, bringing his signature infectious energy to a brand he’s been a fan of for ages. 

But seriously, why is this particular team-up such a big deal for fans like us? For anyone who follows sports, seeing Lyles bridge these two worlds is genuinely exciting. It shows just how huge gaming has become, not just as a hobby, but as a major part of entertainment and even style. His role in this Adidas Originals x 100 Thieves launch highlights how top athletes nowadays are completely comfortable and proud to show off their gamer side.

They’re mixing intense athleticism with digital culture in a way that feels genuine and new. As gaming keeps influencing everything around us, it makes you wonder: how many other athletes will see Noah linking up with 100 Thieves and decide it’s time for them to jump into the esports world too?