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Kimi Antonelli Creates Formula 1 History As The Mercedes Driver Clinches His Maiden World Championship At Just 20 Years And 68 Days, Becoming The Youngest Driver Ever To Win The Coveted Title After Finishing Third At The Mexico City Grand Prix.
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The Italian Sensation Breaks Sebastian Vettel’s Record, Which Had Stood Since 2010, To Become The Youngest Formula 1 World Champion In History, Despite Finishing Behind Max Verstappen And Lewis Hamilton In A Thrilling Mexico City Grand Prix.
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Antonelli Joins An Exclusive Group Of Formula 1 Legends, Including Lewis Hamilton, Jacques Villeneuve And Juan Manuel Fangio, As Only The Fourth Driver To Capture The World Championship In His Second Season In The Sport.
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The Mercedes Star Ends Italy’s 73-Year Wait For A Formula 1 World Champion, Becoming The First Italian To Win The Drivers’ Championship Since Alberto Ascari In 1953 After A Sensational 2026 Campaign Featuring Nine Race Victories And 380 Championship Points.
November 02, (THEWILL) – Mercedes Driver, Kimi Antonelli, became the youngest champion in Formula 1 history by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix to win his first world title on Sunday.
Despite finishing third in the race behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, he emerged champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days old.
Verstappen took advantage of a big fight between the Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the opening lap to claim his third win in four races.
Pole-sitter, Hamilton, went side by side with Leclerc through the tight Turns 1 and 2 before Leclerc attacked again into Turn 4 around the outside.
Both drivers went off the track but Leclerc went across the grass to take the lead, allowing Verstappen to capitalise by overtaking Hamilton.
Antonelli was in the fourth position on the starting grid and he needed to finish ninth or higher to clinch the title outright.
He surpassed Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010 at the age of 23 with Red Bull Racing, to take the record for youngest driver to win the championship.
He joins Lewis Hamilton, Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Manuel Fangio as only the fourth driver in F1 history to win the title in his second season.
Antonelli is also the first Italian to win a championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
It has been a breakthrough year for Antonelli, who has won nine races so far in 2026, and finished just two races outside the podium places.
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Antonelli was delighted to win his first-ever Formula 1 title.
He said: “We did it. You know, without them, I wouldn’t be here – without Mercedes, without my family. So I’m very grateful for this moment, and it’s one that will live forever. I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened.
“It’s been an incredible season, and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. And yeah, looking forward to some more battles in the future.
“This weekend I did feel a bit more tense, but I’m just so happy, and happy that we got it done, and now we can enjoy the rest of the season.”
Antonelli has earned 380 points over 19 rounds with four events remaining before the end of the season. It mathematically impossible for the other contestants to overtake him.
Up next is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil on November 6.
Mexico City GP Result: Top 10
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull
- Ryo Hirakawa, Haas
