Kimi Antonelli becomes F1’s youngest champion in Mexico
Sealed the Formula 1 title with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the sport’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days. The…
Kimi Antonelli becomes F1’s youngest world champion after finishing third for Mercedes at the Mexico City Grand Prix, sealing the title at 20 years and 68 days old. His championship lead reached 119 points, with four races remaining.
The result puts Antonelli in the record books and gives Mercedes a title-winning driver after a season in which he turned an uncertain debut into a commanding campaign. He shared the podium with race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, two champions who praised his achievement.
How Antonelli clinched the title
Antonelli’s third place was enough to make his points lead unassailable. Verstappen won the restarted race, while Hamilton finished second after starting from pole position. George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate and the preseason favorite, came home sixth.
The race was interrupted after Valtteri Bottas suffered a high-speed front-left suspension failure on lap 46 of 71. His Cadillac hit the barriers at turn one, and officials stopped the race. Bottas received medical attention in the car, walked to an ambulance and was later released from the medical centre.
A second safety car followed a collision between Lindblad and Piastri. Racing resumed with nine laps remaining. Antonelli passed Charles Leclerc after the restart and held third to the finish.
A tense afternoon. A historic finish.
Mercedes had promoted Antonelli to replace Hamilton the previous year, despite doubts about his experience. His debut season brought flashes of promise but also shaky performances, while Russell comfortably outperformed him in 2025.
The momentum shifted this season. Antonelli finished the opening race close behind Russell, then won the second race of the year. That victory began a run of five consecutive wins and put him in control of the championship.
What makes Antonelli’s title historic?
At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli is Formula 1’s youngest world champion. The previous record belonged to Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title at 23 years and 134 days old in 2010.
Antonelli is also the first Italian driver to win the championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The achievement came at the end of only his second season in Formula 1, after his improvement over the winter changed expectations around his title prospects.
Mercedes’ early-season advantage faded as rivals improved, but Antonelli remained in contention and delivered with notable consistency. Russell, who had entered the season as the team’s stronger title candidate, fell to fourth in the standings, 130 points behind his teammate.
The result has consequences beyond Antonelli’s individual record. Mercedes now lead Ferrari 630 points to 504 in the constructors’ standings and could secure that title in Brazil next weekend. For the team, the Mexico result turned a drivers’ championship into a possible double-title finish.
Antonelli said he was emotional during the closing lap and had to back off because he could not see the track. After stepping from the car, he was embraced by his parents and sister before celebrating with the Mercedes crew.
“At his age,” Verstappen said, “to be so solid, not make big mistakes, and of course also beat your experienced team-mate, he's just driven incredible, and I'm very proud of him, how he has handled himself this whole season.”
Antonelli said he would frame a photograph of the podium with Hamilton and Verstappen. His championship lead stands at 119 points.
