Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinched the Formula 1 world championship at the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing third at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit to become the youngest champion in the sport’s history. The 20-year-old needed only two points to secure the title; his result earned him 15.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the race, while Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, finished second. The podium brought together 12 world titles across three generations: Verstappen is 29 and Hamilton is 41.
“I’m very happy with this moment. It was a dream of mine,” Antonelli said after the race, thanking Mercedes and his family. He added that sharing the podium with Verstappen and Hamilton made the occasion special.
Born in Bologna on August 25, 2006, Antonelli surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s record. Vettel was 23 years, four months and 11 days old when he won his first championship in 2010. Antonelli’s victory also ends Italy’s wait for an F1 champion since Alberto Ascari won his second title in 1953.
Antonelli secured the championship with four races remaining, although the season schedule could still change. The Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds may be cancelled because of conflicts in the Middle East. The next scheduled race is the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos on the 8th.
After the Mexico race, Antonelli had 380 points, 119 ahead of Verstappen on 261 and 121 clear of Hamilton on 259. In his second season in F1, he has recorded 10 wins and 16 podium finishes. He took the lead of the championship with victory in Japan, the third round, and held it through the following 15 races.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s decision to promote Antonelli directly from Formula 2 to the team’s F1 seat proved central to his rapid rise. Unlike George Russell, who raced in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before making his F1 debut with Williams in 2019, Antonelli skipped a season in F3. The move marked a shift from Mercedes’ more gradual approach to developing young drivers.
Antonelli’s rapid progression began in the junior categories, where he moved from F4 to F2 before joining Mercedes at 18, taking the seat vacated by seven-time champion Hamilton. During his F2 season in 2024, he finished sixth in a campaign affected by difficulties with the Prema car, particularly its tyre management. Gabriel Bortoleto won the championship.
Antonelli also completed his final year of secondary school while making his F1 debut. He graduated from Italy’s Istituto Tecnico Salvemini di Casalecchio di Reno, where he studied a technical course focused on international relations and marketing. Before winning the title, he had already taken his first F1 victory in China earlier this season.
Sources: Folha Esporte.