Antonelli, 20, becomes F1's youngest ever champion in Mexico chaos

Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest Formula One world champion in history, smashing Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record. The Mirror reported ^[1] that the 20-year-old Mercedes driver secured third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix to clinch the title, surpassing Vettel’s record by more than three years.

The Guardian noted ^[2] that Antonelli etched his name into the record books as the first Italian to win the drivers' championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He needed only to finish ninth to secure the crown but delivered a nerveless performance to seal it with four races still remaining in the season.

Race winner Max Verstappen led from fifth on the grid to take victory, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second. However, the day belonged to Antonelli, who was handed an Italian flag and celebrated with his family and Mercedes team. The BBC reported ^[3] that tensions flared at Ferrari during the race, with Hamilton left fuming after teammate Charles Leclerc gained an advantage on the opening lap and received a five-second penalty.

Antonelli, who joined Mercedes’ young driver programme at age 12, overcame doubts about his rookie errors to dominate the 2026 season. The Daily Mail highlighted ^[4] his serene command of the race, contrasting his current form with the mistakes that marked his debut year. Despite early scepticism, he outpaced teammate George Russell, who had been the pre-season favourite, in a campaign that saw him win five of the first six races.

Verstappen praised his rival’s achievement, calling it “really, really impressive” given Antonelli’s age. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who pipped Antonelli in final practice according to The Independent ^[5], also paid tribute, stating he had “nothing but respect” for the new champion. Norris noted that beating Russell, a “very, very talented teammate,” proved the scale of Antonelli’s accomplishment.

The title is Mercedes’ first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton won in 2020. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes Team Principal, told Antonelli over the radio: “World champion! We did it!” Antonelli, in tears, replied: “We did it! Thank you so much.”

The championship battle was largely settled by Antonelli’s consistency, including a remarkable win from 19th on the grid at his home race in Monza. With the title secured, attention now turns to the remaining rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, though the Middle East races remain subject to geopolitical uncertainty. For Antonelli, born just 20 miles from Bologna, this victory marks the culmination of a decade-long project by Mercedes to nurture their next great star.