Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver secured his first world title on Sunday, November 1, 2026, with four races remaining in the season.
Antonelli finished behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who claimed victory, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who came second.
The Italian surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s previous record by three years and 66 days, becoming the youngest driver to win the championship at 20 years and 68 days.
He also became the first Italian to win the Formula 1 world title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Antonelli’s historic achievement came after a composed performance in a dramatic race interrupted by a red flag, which resulted in a 25-lap sprint to the finish.
The Mercedes driver maintained his position among the front-runners despite intense battles involving Verstappen, Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
Antonelli spent the closing laps watching Hamilton attempt to close the gap on Verstappen after the pair made contact at the first chicane following the restart.
Hamilton, however, struggled to get close enough to the Red Bull driver to attempt a pass.
The Ferrari driver finished second, frustrated by what he believed was a missed opportunity to win following Leclerc’s aggressive move on the opening lap.
Tensions between the Ferrari teammates nearly boiled over after Leclerc’s successful attempt to take the lead sparked controversy within the team.
The incident became one of the major talking points of the race, although Antonelli’s championship triumph overshadowed the internal dispute.
The Italian celebrated emotionally over the team radio during his slowing-down lap, breaking into tears and laughter after Mercedes informed him he had won the title.
Initially unable to speak, Antonelli eventually composed himself and said: “Thank you so much. We did it. We did it.”
The championship marks a remarkable achievement for Antonelli, who was still a teenager until late August and has taken the season by storm.
His title victory also comes with several races remaining, underlining his dominance and consistency throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s victory marked his third win in four races, with the Red Bull driver benefiting from the battle between the Ferrari teammates.
The Mexico City Grand Prix also featured a dramatic red-flag interruption, which reset the race and created a 25-lap sprint to the finish.
Antonelli remained composed through the closing stages, securing the podium position needed to seal the championship.
The result confirms his place in Formula 1 history as the youngest world champion, while Verstappen’s victory and Ferrari’s internal tensions provided the other major storylines from Mexico.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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