ANTONELLI BECOMES F1’S YOUNGEST CHAMPION

Italian racing sensation Kimi Antonelli has made history after becoming Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days.

The Mercedes driver secured the 2026 Drivers’ Championship on Sunday after finishing third at the dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the race, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.

Antonelli needed only a ninth-place finish or better to guarantee the championship, regardless of his rivals’ results. He delivered a composed performance despite the race being interrupted by multiple crashes, two safety cars and a red-flag stoppage lasting 33 minutes.

His third-place finish gave him an unassailable 119-point lead in the championship, with four races still remaining.

The achievement saw Antonelli break Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest Formula One world champion. Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first title with Red Bull in 2010.

Antonelli also became Italy’s first Formula One world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait for the country.

Overcome with emotion, the young driver celebrated with his Mercedes team after crossing the finish line. His parents and sister were also present to share the historic moment.

“I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened,” Antonelli said after securing the title.

The Italian’s success comes in only his second Formula One season, having joined Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement in 2025.

His remarkable rise has established him as one of the sport’s biggest talents and secured his place in Formula One history.

Meanwhile, Verstappen’s victory in Mexico marked his sixth win at the circuit, while Hamilton secured second place after a dramatic battle involving his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

With four rounds left in the season, Antonelli can now celebrate a championship triumph that has rewritten Formula One’s record books.