Kimi Antonelli made Formula 1 history at the Mexico City Grand Prix by becoming the youngest world champion in the sport. The Mercedes driver finished third behind race winner Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, securing the title with several races still remaining in the season.
Antonelli was 20 years and 68 days old, beating Sebastian Vettel’s previous record by three years and 67 days. He also became the first Italian to win the Formula 1 championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
The Italian kept his composure through a turbulent race that included a red-flag stoppage and a late 25-lap sprint to the finish. He had been running fourth during the opening stint before moving into the lead as rivals made pit stops. Mercedes’ decision to pit him shortly before the safety car left him on fresh tyres for the closing stages.
After the restart, Antonelli passed Charles Leclerc and eventually settled behind Verstappen and Hamilton. A second safety-car period followed a collision involving Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. When racing resumed with seven laps remaining, none of the leading three could make a move, and they finished nose to tail with less than two seconds separating them.
Antonelli was overcome with emotion on his slowing-down lap. Initially unable to speak after Mercedes told him he had won the championship, he eventually replied over the radio: “Thank you so much. We did it. We did it.”
Verstappen’s victory was his third in four races and came after Ferrari’s two drivers became involved in a tense opening lap. Hamilton started from pole, while Leclerc was third behind George Russell. Leclerc moved ahead after going off the track while passing Hamilton and received a five-second penalty.
The incident allowed Verstappen to move into second place. Hamilton later argued that Ferrari’s internal battle had cost him a potential victory, particularly because overtaking proved difficult after the restart. Hamilton also made contact with Verstappen at the first chicane but could not get close enough to challenge for the lead again.
Leclerc survived late pressure from Lando Norris despite suffering a lock-up after the red flag and concerns about his damaged tyre. Russell finished sixth after receiving a 10-second penalty for sending Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar into a spin, while Piastri took seventh after his car was damaged in the collision with Lindblad.
Sources: BBC Sport.