Son of revered chief mechanic Giovanni Sandi, Federico started to race in 1998 in the Italian Pocket Bike championship when he was nine. He completed his apprenticeship racing on the Spanish scene, competing in the Cuna de Campeones in 2003 and 2004 and taking 6th overall in the Spanish Championship. In 2005, he's making his Grand Prix debut on a Honda, under the Angaia Racing team colours.