MEXICO CITY: Kimi Antonelli has made Formula One history by becoming the youngest world champion at just 20 years and 68 days old, securing the title after finishing third at the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line behind Max Verstappen and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, but his result was enough to put the championship beyond the reach of his remaining rivals, including teammate George Russell.
Antonelli celebrated the milestone in tears, capping a remarkable second season in Formula One. His achievement also made him Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari won the title in 1953.
A Record-Breaking Champion
At 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli comfortably surpassed the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 133 days old when he secured his first world championship in 2010.
Promoted to Formula One in 2025 at the age of 18, Antonelli has emerged as one of the sport’s leading talents. Mercedes has enjoyed a dominant season, but the Italian has consistently outperformed his British teammate Russell.
After finishing second to Russell at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Antonelli won the next five races. Heading into Mexico, he had secured nine victories from 18 races, alongside six additional podium finishes.
One of his most impressive performances came at Monza, where he recovered from 19th on the starting grid, overtook Russell, who had started from pole position, and secured a commanding victory at his home Grand Prix.
From Karting to F1 Glory
Born into a motorsport family, Antonelli began karting at the age of seven. His father, Marco, is a former racing driver and team principal, while his mother, Elisabetta, has largely remained outside the public spotlight.
Despite his own racing background, Marco initially opposed his son’s ambition to become a professional driver because of the financial risks and challenges involved in motorsport.
“He didn’t want me to become a driver because motorsports can be very cruel at times, especially financially, since it’s very hard to succeed without the support of the right people,” Antonelli said before the United States Grand Prix.
He credited his father with teaching him both racing skills and life lessons, describing his support as important throughout his career.
At the age of 11, Antonelli was recruited into Mercedes’ junior driver programme by Frenchman Gwen Lagrue. Lewis Hamilton also served as a mentor during his development.
Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Antonelli dominated karting competitions in 2020 and 2021 before winning Italian and German Formula 4 championships in 2022. He then claimed the Formula Regional title in 2023.
He skipped Formula 3 and moved directly to Formula 2 in 2024, finishing sixth in the championship. His rapid progress earned him a Mercedes seat following Hamilton’s departure for Ferrari.
Although his rookie Formula One season included difficult moments, Antonelli secured second place in Sao Paulo and two additional podium finishes, ending the year seventh in the championship.
Kimi Antonelli on Brink of Historic F1 Championship in Mexico
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the young driver had always shown exceptional talent but needed time to adjust to the demands of Formula One.
“He had to handle the pressure, the media, and the expectations,” Wolff told AFP, adding that Antonelli’s performances during the current season had exceeded expectations.
Praise From Hamilton
Antonelli’s first Formula One victory came at the Chinese Grand Prix in March, making him the second-youngest race winner in the sport’s history.
Following that triumph, Lagrue sent him an emotional message praising both his speed and mental strength, qualities that have helped him progress from a promising junior driver to a championship contender.
Hamilton has also praised Antonelli’s ability, saying the Italian deserves to become world champion. The seven-time champion’s endorsement has added to growing speculation about how far his young protégé could go in the sport.
Personality Behind the Success
Beyond his performances on the track, Antonelli has become a popular figure in the Formula One paddock because of his cheerful personality, humour and relaxed approach.
His press conferences frequently feature jokes involving fellow drivers, while his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, who previously worked with Hamilton, has reportedly become a regular target of his practical jokes.
Behind the light-hearted personality, however, Antonelli has demonstrated the consistency, speed and composure required to win a world championship.
With four races remaining in the season, his historic achievement marks a defining moment in Formula One and signals the arrival of a new generation of racing talent.
