Italian starboy Kimi Antonelli crowned F1 World Champion

ROME — Kimi Antonelli, 20, has been crowned the youngest-ever Formula One 2026 World Champion, after coming third in the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Antonelli is the first Italian in 73 years to be crowned world champion, following from Alberto Ascari’s back-to-back wins in 1952 and 1953.

Joined on the podium in Mexico by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli celebrated his world title victory in the presence of champions - Verstappen with five titles and Hamilton with seven respectively.

Going into the race weekend, the two competitors still in the standings for claiming the world title as their own were Antonelli and his Mercedes teammate, George Russell. Antonelli only needed two points to ensure Russell could not catch him before the end of the season - with his third place finish Antonelli secured 15 points.

As well as dethroning Briton Lando Norris from the world champion spot, the Bolognese Antonelli dethroned Sebastian Vettel as being the youngest driver to win a world championship. Antonelli won at just 20 years and 68 days old, shaving three years of Vettel’s previous record.

Speaking after the race, Antonelli said he was “speechless” and “trying to process what happened”, adding it had been “an incredible season.” He also said he was “very grateful” for all the support Mercedes and his family had given him throughout the year.

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