Kimi Antonelli Makes Formula One History as Youngest World Champion at 20

Italian driver Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest world champion in Formula One history after securing the 2026 drivers’ title with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver clinched the championship at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, finishing behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the race, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who came second. Antonelli’s podium finish gave him an unassailable lead with four races remaining in the season.

At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli broke the previous record held by Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first world championship in 2010. The Italian also became the first driver born in the 21st century to win Formula One’s drivers’ title.

His triumph makes him Italy’s first Formula One world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 and only the third Italian to win the championship, following Giuseppe Farina and Ascari. He is also the latest driver to claim the title with Mercedes.

Speaking after the race, Antonelli described the achievement as a moment he would remember for the rest of his life. He thanked his team, family, friends and supporters, adding that winning the championship was only the beginning of what he hoped would be a successful career.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “I think that this win is just going to mark a new beginning. A new point to build on and to keep improving and keep trying to win championships.”

The new champion also acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining his focus throughout the season, particularly as the possibility of winning the title became increasingly real. He said the experience of overcoming difficult moments during his rookie campaign had helped him mature and handle the pressure of a championship battle.

Tributes quickly came from across the Formula One paddock. Verstappen praised Antonelli’s performance, saying that winning a championship in only his second season, at such a young age, was highly impressive. He also commended the Italian for remaining consistent and avoiding major mistakes throughout the campaign.

Hamilton, who finished second in Mexico, congratulated Antonelli and described sharing the podium with the new champion as a special moment. The seven-time world champion had previously tipped Antonelli as his successor at Mercedes when he left the team for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season.

McLaren’s Lando Norris also praised the Italian, saying he had been outstanding throughout the year and deserved the title. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc similarly congratulated him, describing the emotional scenes involving Antonelli and his family as a beautiful moment.

Antonelli’s race engineer, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, who previously worked with both Michael Schumacher and Hamilton, said he felt privileged to work with the young driver. He described the achievement as the first chapter of what he believes could be a long and successful career.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also celebrated the result, recalling the decision to promote Antonelli into the team’s senior line-up after Hamilton’s departure. Wolff said the difficult moments of the driver’s first season made the championship victory particularly rewarding for the team.

Antonelli joined Mercedes’ junior programme as a child and was promoted to the Formula One team in 2025. His debut season was challenging, but he made significant progress in 2026, establishing himself as a leading contender and securing the championship in only his second year in the sport.

While Verstappen took the victory in Mexico, the spotlight remained on Antonelli as he celebrated a record-breaking achievement. With four races still to come, the Italian has already secured his place in Formula One history and is looking ahead to the challenge of defending his title.