Photo: Ida Wood
Karting legend and Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 Junior Team talent spotter Mike Wilson has passed away aged 66.
Wilson joined Mercedes in 2024 to scout out karters to potentially sign and also coach James Anagnostiadis and Kenzo Craigie who were the team’s existing proteges in that paddock.
The Briton, whose career has tied him to Italy for many years, was world champion of the top Formula K kart category six times in the 1980s, establishing himself as one of the greatest ever talents to get behind the wheel of the sit-on vehicles which are the starting point for many single-seater stars.
In 2009, a mutual contact led to Lawrence Stroll – now the owner of the Aston Martin F1 team – getting Wilson to tutor his son Lance in mini karting. The younger Stroll made it all the way to F1.
Either side of that job, Wilson ran karts and assisted drivers once he stepped back from racing them himself. His list of proteges include two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
During his early career, Wilson was known for his battles with Ayrton Senna and the two went from intense rivals to being two motorsport greats with immense respect for each other. He also raced at karting’s top level against two-time CART champion and Paralympic medallist Alex Zanardi, European Formula 2 champion Corrado Fabi and Terry Fullerton.
Many of the major karting brands have worked with Wilson or run him, with his name historically connected to Birel the most as he won three world championships on its karts.