Kimi Antonelli made Formula 1 history by becoming the youngest world champion ever after securing the 2026 Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver sealed the title with a third-place finish in a dramatic race that featured a red flag and safety car intervention, ending the championship hopes of his remaining challengers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli finished behind former world champions Max Verstappen and Hamilton but did enough to secure the championship with races still remaining in the season.
His teammate Russell, who had entered the campaign as one of the favourites for the title, finished sixth, bringing an underwhelming afternoon to another disappointing season for the British driver.
The Italian’s achievement marked a remarkable turnaround from his difficult debut campaign in 2025, when several costly mistakes and inconsistent performances raised questions about whether he was ready to compete at the highest level.
However, Antonelli answered those doubts emphatically this season, producing a series of outstanding performances to establish himself as the driver to beat.
Speaking to Nico Rosberg after the race, an emotional Antonelli credited his family and Mercedes for helping him reach the top of Formula 1.
“We did it. Without my family and Mercedes, I wouldn’t be here. This moment will live forever.
“It’s been an incredible season.”
The victory also saw him break Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record as the youngest Formula 1 world champion.
Vettel previously held the record after winning his first championship with Red Bull in 2010 at the age of 23. Antonelli surpassed that achievement by three years.
The Mercedes youngster’s championship success followed an impressive run of form that began early in the season.
After finishing strongly in the opening round, Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at the second race in Shanghai.
That success triggered an extraordinary run of five consecutive victories, allowing him to build a significant advantage over Russell in the championship standings.
Further victories and podium finishes followed throughout the summer and autumn, while his consistency ensured he remained ahead even when Mercedes’ early-season advantage began to disappear.
Although Russell experienced several unfortunate results during the campaign, Antonelli consistently demonstrated superior pace and composure when the pressure increased.
Hamilton and Verstappen praise Antonelli’s achievement
Antonelli’s championship success received immediate recognition from some of the biggest names in Formula 1.
Hamilton and Verstappen, two of the most successful drivers in the sport’s history, were united in their assessment of the Italian’s achievement.
“Incredible,” they both said.
Sharing the Mexico City Grand Prix podium with the two former champions made the occasion even more special for Antonelli.
He admitted that the photograph of the three drivers would become one of his most treasured memories.
“I will definitely frame the picture and put it in my house because it’s just an incredible moment. And as well to see so much respect from two incredible drivers who have done the history of the sport is truly special and a moment that will live and will always be remembered.”
Verstappen was particularly impressed by how the Mercedes driver handled the demands of a championship battle against more experienced competitors.
“At his age,” said Verstappen, “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.”
Outgoing world champion Lando Norris also praised Antonelli, describing him as a deserving winner who had exceeded expectations.
“It couldn’t have gone to a better person,” he said. “He’s a genuine guy, very, very kind, and he has driven unbelievably well this year, better that what everyone was expecting of him.
“He’s certainly not had an easy season in terms of his competition being incredibly high. He has gone up against the best drivers in the world, all in very good cars, and he’s blown everyone away.
“I hope everyone gives him enough credit for what he’s achieved this year. He’s made everyone else look silly. He’s driven that well and he’s been able to click with his car, he’s worked hard to understand how to drive this car and he’s exploited it better than anyone else.
“So he should be very proud. He has achieved history and I am very, very happy for him.”
Antonelli’s difficult debut season made the difference
The championship triumph was particularly significant because of the criticism Antonelli faced during his first season in Formula 1.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had taken a major gamble by promoting the young Italian to replace seven-time world champion Hamilton in 2025.
The decision raised eyebrows because Antonelli had limited experience at the highest level, having never won an F1 race before joining the team.
His debut campaign included flashes of brilliance but was also marked by costly errors and difficult weekends.
One particularly difficult moment came during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix, when he struggled to deliver the performance expected of him and became emotional in front of television cameras.
Those struggles prompted questions about Wolff’s decision, especially as Russell comfortably outperformed his younger teammate throughout the season.
However, the experience proved valuable as Antonelli returned for 2026 with a completely different level of confidence and maturity.
He admitted that the criticism and difficult moments helped prepare him for the pressure of competing for the championship.
“The fact that some people said that I wasn’t belonging to F1,” he said, “or I wasn’t ready for it – which at some point last year I probably looked like I wasn’t – being able to experience those moments made me much more ready ahead of this year.
“Experiencing really low and difficult situations, high-pressure moments, really helped me to face certain situations this year and definitely they made me mature a lot as a driver, as a person.
“Still this year I’ve had moments where I could have done better, a lot better, so it’s just a constant learning process.
“Last year being able to race straight into Mercedes, obviously straight under the spotlight, made me grow much faster than if I would have gone to a smaller team, for example.”
His ability to learn from those experiences became one of the defining features of his championship-winning campaign.
Emotional celebrations after historic achievement
The importance of the moment became clear during the final lap in Mexico.
Antonelli revealed that he struggled to see properly as he approached the chequered flag because he was already crying inside the cockpit.
“I lost probably two seconds because I was already crying basically and I couldn’t see clearly ahead,” he said. “I could see two Ferraris somehow with the tears.
“It was very special and a lot of memories went through my mind in that moment.”
His parents, Marco and Veronica, were waiting to celebrate with him after the race.
His father, in particular, had played an important role throughout the campaign, offering support during difficult moments and helping him remain grounded despite his growing success.
“To have my dad during the whole season was very important,” said Antonelli, “because, first of all, he was the one keeping me grounded, especially after very high moments, but as well he was the one that was always there when I was facing a difficult situation or I wasn’t feeling the best ahead of a session.”
Antonelli also became emotional during the champions’ news conference when discussing his late grandfather, briefly stopping to compose himself before continuing.
His achievement was further recognised by 1996 world champion Damon Hill, who predicted an even brighter future for the Mercedes driver.
“I don’t see anything else other than him getting better and better. He’s going to have to go through hard times as well, but no one is going to doubt his incredible talent.”
Antonelli’s first championship made him Italy’s third Formula 1 world champion and the country’s first since 1953.
At just 20, he had already achieved something that many drivers spend their entire careers chasing.
With his breakthrough season now complete, attention will turn to whether Antonelli can maintain his dominance and establish himself as the next great champion of Formula 1.
