Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, has rewritten the record books of Formula 1 by becoming the youngest world champion in the sport’s illustrious history at just 20 years of age. This monumental achievement was officially sealed following the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking Antonelli as the first Italian driver to claim an F1 championship in 73 years.
The Mexico City Grand Prix, the 19th event in the current 23-race season, saw four-time world champion Max Verstappen emerge victorious. Antonelli secured a solid third-place finish in the thrilling contest, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in second position.
Despite not winning the Mexico City race itself, Antonelli’s consistent and dominant performance throughout the season, which includes an impressive nine victories across the 19 races contested to date, positioned him firmly at the top of the driver standings. Following the Mexican Grand Prix, he commands a formidable 380 points, maintaining a substantial 119-point lead over second-placed Max Verstappen, a lead that definitively secured his maiden world title. Immediately after the race, the young Italian expressed his immense excitement and gratitude via radio communication with his technical team.
Antonelli’s triumph also holds significant historical weight, as he becomes only the third Italian driver ever to win a Formula 1 World Championship. He is the first since the legendary Alberto Ascari achieved the feat way back in 1953. His youthful success shatters the previous record for the youngest F1 champion, which was held by Sebastian Vettel. Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he clinched his first title for Red Bull in 2010.
Beyond the top three finishers in Mexico City, Charles Leclerc, representing Ferrari, finished in fourth place. Defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren secured fifth position, with Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell, finishing sixth.
The exceptional performance of Antonelli and Russell has also propelled Mercedes to the forefront of the Constructors’ Championship standings. Currently, Mercedes leads the manufacturer battle with 630 points, comfortably ahead of Ferrari’s 504 points. This strong lead positions Mercedes favorably to potentially clinch the Constructors’ title at the upcoming F1 race in Brazil next week.
