Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history after finishing third in the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver secured the title with four races remaining, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest champion by over three years. Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton second for Ferrari. Antonelli needed only ninth place to clinch the championship but crossed the line in third, ensuring an unassailable 119-point lead over teammate George Russell.
The race was marred by a red flag after Valtteri Bottas crashed his Cadillac at high speed, suspending the event for over 30 minutes. Hamilton, who started from pole, lost the lead after a clash with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who received a five-second penalty. Verstappen led the restart, with Antonelli overtaking Leclerc to secure his podium finish.
Antonelli, the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, was visibly emotional after the race. “I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened,” he told the crowd. His race engineer, Peter Bonnington, radioed: “Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the achievement “a new chapter in Formula 1 history.”
The victory marked Verstappen’s sixth win at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Hamilton, frustrated by the stewards’ decision on Leclerc’s penalty, finished second despite his earlier lead. Leclerc came fourth, while Antonelli’s teammate Russell placed sixth, ending his title hopes.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said Antonelli’s triumph was a moment for Italy to celebrate after a 73-year wait. “For 73 years, our country has waited for this moment,” he said. The next race is in Brazil, followed by Las Vegas, with the season’s final two events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi under review due to regional instability.
