20-year-old Antonelli becomes youngest Formula One world champion

Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion and Italy’s first since 1953 after finishing third behind multiple champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s thrilling and crash-hit Mexico City Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old Italian drove his Mercedes to a 16th podium finish of the season, combining audacity and professionalism in a fiercely contested race that featured two safety cars and a red-flag stoppage.

“Thank you so much, we did it,” he said tearfully over the team radio on his slow-down lap, as his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, told him it was “a pleasure to be on the journey with you, but it’s just the first chapter”.

Antonelli soon regained his composure and, after thanking his family and Mercedes, added: “We did it. I am so grateful for this moment – and it is one I will live forever. I’m speechless, just trying to process what has happened.

“It’s been an incredible season and to share the podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. I felt more tense this weekend, but I am so happy we got it done.”

In March 2026, 19-year-old Mercedes’ Antonelli becomes youngest pole-sitter in F1 history.

At 20 years and 68 days old, he became the youngest champion, beating the previous record held by four-time champion Sebastian Vettel by more than three years. He also became Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari won the title with Ferrari in 1953.

In a two-part race, interrupted by a 45-minute pause after Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily in his Cadillac, Red Bull’s four-time champion Verstappen finished 0.799 seconds ahead of seven-time champion Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, while Antonelli was third, 3.207 seconds behind.

It was Verstappen’s record-extending sixth victory in Mexico, his third win of the season and the 74th of his career.

Charles Leclerc finished fourth in the second Ferrari after triggering a race-long dispute within his team with an opening-lap collision with team-mate Hamilton, who started from pole position.

“I think we had the pace to win today, but it wasn’t meant to be and we’ll take it offline and figure out what we can do in the background,” said a visibly irritated Hamilton.

“We have to hold some serious talks behind the scenes.”

Outgoing world champion Lando Norris finished fifth in his McLaren, while Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who needed to win to have any chance of preventing the Italian from clinching the title, came sixth.

They were followed by Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls and Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine.

“The first start made the race for me,” said Verstappen, who charged from fifth to second on the opening lap.

“We lacked some pace, but I hung in there and I was sweating at the end to keep Lewis behind.”

Chaotic opening

Hamilton made a clean start from his record 105th pole position and held the lead through the 800-metre run to Turn One, as Russell struggled to hold off Leclerc and a charging Verstappen.

The Monegasque driver appeared to set aside team loyalty and attacked again into Turn Four, running off the track to take the lead. Hamilton was then passed by Verstappen, while Antonelli overtook Russell for fourth from fifth on the grid.

On a chaotic opening lap, Isack Hadjar spun after contact with Russell and dropped to last place, while Hamilton radioed Ferrari to say he had been “pushed out by my own teammate”.

The stewards investigated the incidents and, on lap 13, handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage and Russell a 10-second penalty for causing a collision.

Leclerc opened a 2.5-second lead by lap 10 after an early virtual safety car intervention following the retirements of both Aston Martins, with Lance Stroll parking his car at Turn Five.

Ferrari’s race then became increasingly tense as Leclerc pitted on lap 27, followed by Verstappen, who passed him in the pits while serving his penalty. Hamilton took the lead again but pitted one lap later.

Antonelli eventually pitted on lap 43 and dropped to fourth before Bottas crashed after suffering a suspension failure at Turn One. A safety car was deployed before the race was red-flagged.

After a 45-minute interruption, the remaining 25-lap sprint on soft tyres resumed, with Hamilton back in third ahead of Antonelli, surging past Leclerc, who locked up.

Antonelli held on to third as Hamilton continued to pressure Verstappen.

It was fitting that the young Italian, who was in tears as he crossed the finish line, was joined on the podium by two of the sport’s all-time greats, who have 11 world titles between them.