19/05/2026
MERCEDES DRIVER DEVELOPMENT powered by Axel Motorsports Gruppe TEAM HIGHLIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE OF ITS KART COACH
The Mercedes Driver Development Team continues to strengthen its driver training and development program by highlighting one of the key figures behind its growing motorsport initiative — former kart racing champion Christian Gaddi, whose experience and passion for mentoring now play an important role in shaping the next generation of Filipino racers.
Before establishing himself as a coach, Gaddi built an impressive and highly competitive karting career that began in the Cadet 60 category, where he quickly emerged as one of the Philippines’ standout young talents. Early in his development, he was already competing in double-entry campaigns, racing simultaneously in both the Cadet 60 and Mini Rok categories, and eventually KT100 which he dominated during his novice year. This demanding setup not only accelerated his technical learning curve but also showcased his adaptability and racecraft against different grids and performance levels.
Throughout his racing years, he secured multiple championships in the AKOC, Shell Helix Super Karting Series, Magnolia Purewater Super Karting Series, and various national karting competitions across the Philippines and Asia.
Competing in the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC), Gaddi raced in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, and the Philippines against some of Asia’s top young drivers. Among his major achievements were winning the 2007 to 2008 AKOC Cadet 60 Overall Championship, followed by multiple overall titles in the Cadet 60 and Mini Rok categories from 2008 to 2010. He later returned to double-entry competition during the 2010 to 2011 seasons, racing in both the Mini Rok and KT100 categories.
After becoming an overall champion in his category in the Philippines, Gaddi earned an invitation to compete in the prestigious ROK International Finals in Lonato, Italy — a once-a-year global event that gathers only the best kart racers from around the world. The opportunity marked a significant milestone in his racing career and provided him with valuable exposure to elite international competition.
His racing journey also brought him onto the international stage through participation in prestigious overseas competitions. During the 2007 Macau International Kart Grand Prix, Gaddi competed in the Formula Cadet 60 category, while current Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr. participated in the same event under the KF3 class, highlighting the international caliber of competition present during the event. He also competed in WSK Japan, where Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was likewise competing in a separate category. Experiences such as these provided valuable exposure to high-level international karting and contributed to his deep understanding of racecraft, driver discipline, and competitive development.
Now serving as one of the coaches of the Mercedes Driver Development Team, Christian Gaddi has spent the past two years mentoring aspiring kart racers in the Philippines, focusing on driver development, racecraft, and on-track performance. He recently coached a Filipino driver in international competitions in Thailand and Macau, providing trackside guidance throughout the campaign.
As the Mercedes Driver Development Team continues its mission of developing future Filipino motorsport talents, Gaddi’s leadership, experience, and dedication to coaching are expected to play a vital role in elevating the team and preparing young drivers for higher levels of competition both locally and internationally.
Some career achievements and historical race records were compiled from archived motorsport articles published by Philstar Global featuring Christian Gaddi.
