Kimi Antonelli clinched his first Formula 1 world title on November 1, finishing third at the Mexico Grand Prix. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver reached 380 points, ending Italy’s wait for a champion that had lasted since Alberto Ascari won in 1953. These were ten key moments in his title-winning season.
On March 14 in Shanghai, Antonelli took the first pole position of his career. At 19 years, six months and 18 days old, he became the youngest driver in F1 history to start a race from the front of the grid. The following day, he won the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the second-youngest race winner in the sport’s history, behind Max Verstappen.
On June 7, Antonelli won the Monaco Grand Prix for his fifth consecutive victory. He built a 66-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton and a 68-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the championship standings.
A technical problem and a penalty for exceeding track limits contributed to a 16th-place finish at the British Grand Prix on July 5. It was his third consecutive race without a win, and Russell cut the gap to 25 points. Antonelli responded two weeks later by winning in Belgium, where Russell retired on the opening lap after being hit by Hamilton.
At Monza on September 6, a penalty for an engine change left Antonelli starting 19th. He recovered to win the Italian Grand Prix, ending a 60-year wait for a home winner at the circuit. A week later, he won the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid after a safety car affected Lando Norris, who had been in a strong position to take victory. Antonelli’s lead over Russell grew to 82 points.
Antonelli started 16th in Azerbaijan on September 26 after hitting a wall in qualifying. He avoided a crash triggered by Franco Colapinto and finished fifth in a race won by Russell. On October 4, he placed second in the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, behind Verstappen. Russell retired from third with only a few laps remaining, allowing Antonelli to extend his championship advantage to 84 points.
His ninth win of the season, at the United States Grand Prix on October 25, put Antonelli within two points of the title, with 125 still available. Third place in Mexico on November 1 completed his campaign and secured the championship.
Sources: Folha Esporte.