Antonelli Breaks Vettel's Record at 20

Formula 1 has a new youngest champion, and he is from Italy. Kimi Antonelli crossed the finish line in Mexico City on Sunday to claim the world title at age 20, breaking a record that had stood for sixteen years. He finished the race in third place, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

The title was mathematically secured four races before the end of the season. Antonelli arrived in Mexico with an unassailable lead in the standings over his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel held the previous mark for youngest champion, having won his first title at age 23 in 2010. Antonelli becomes the first Italian driver to win the world championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

The final lap of the race was marked by emotional turbulence for the 20-year-old. Antonelli said he lost two seconds near the end because he was looking at two Ferraris rather than the track ahead. He described the moment as a release of memories and dreams. “We did it, we did it,” he said into his radio, his voice cracking as he placed his hands on the steering wheel after crossing the line. He was joined on the podium by his parents and younger sister.

The path to the title was not smooth in the immediate weeks preceding the race. Antonelli fell ill during his first few days in Mexico, though he claimed to be in his best physical shape by Sunday. He described the mental challenge of hearing constant congratulations while the job was not yet finished. “It is not easy to hear congratulations on a win when the job is not yet done,” he said. “But hearing it repeatedly made me realize that I could actually achieve it.”

Max Verstappen won the race for the sixth time at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver joked that the event should be renamed the “Max-ico” Grand Prix. He said he loved the city and the fans, though he could not explain why the results always came together for him at that circuit. The race was interrupted on lap 46 by a red flag after Valtteri Bottas crashed into the wall at the first corner due to suspension issues. Cadillac reported that Bottas underwent further medical assessments as a precaution, though he exited the car unaided and waved to fans.

Tensions flared within the Ferrari team during the race. Lewis Hamilton, who had started from pole position, lost the lead to Charles Leclerc on the fourth lap. Hamilton briefly went off track and dropped to third. The stewards investigated the maneuver and issued a five-second penalty to Leclerc. Hamilton expressed frustration, saying the penalty gave Leclerc clean air without requiring him to manage the car like the others. “We agreed in the drivers’ briefing,” Hamilton said. “He should have just given the position back.”

Hamilton radioed to his team before the red flag, citing “big, big problems.” He appeared visibly frustrated upon returning to the garage. Leclerc said after the race that he wanted to give the position back to his teammate, but Verstappen had passed them in the interim. “At that point it did not matter because Max passed us and the race was done,” Hamilton said. He noted that Ferrari lost valuable points and that something needed to change regarding team dynamics.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised the new champion in a statement. “For 73 years, our country has waited for this moment,” Domenicali said. “Today, his name joins the legends of our sport.” The championship season will continue with races in Brazil and Las Vegas. The final two scheduled events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain uncertain due to instability in the region.

Antonelli’s achievement caps a season that began with high expectations and ended with history. He secured the crown with consistency, outscoring his rivals despite the race in Mexico being one of the more chaotic events of the year. The next time he takes the wheel, he will do so as the reigning world champion.

The race results in Mexico placed Verstappen first, Hamilton second, and Antonelli third. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Lando Norris and George Russell. The standings are now set with four races remaining on the calendar. Antonelli’s lead over Russell and Hamilton is unassailable, meaning the title will not change hands again this year.