Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest world champion on 1 November 2026, securing the title with third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix. While Max Verstappen took victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver comfortably exceeded the ninth-place finish he required to settle the championship regardless of his rivals’ results.
Aged 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli displaced Sebastian Vettel, whose benchmark of 23 years and 134 days had stood since 2010. He also ended Italy’s 73-year wait for a champion, becoming the country’s first title winner since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Italy’s earlier champions were Ascari, who also won in 1952, and Giuseppe Farina in 1950.
Antonelli’s championship follows nine victories in only his second Formula 1 season. His 380 points after 19 rounds put him beyond the reach of every challenger. His success places him among a small group of second-season champions that includes Juan Manuel Fangio, Jacques Villeneuve and Hamilton.
Starting fourth in Mexico City, Antonelli overtook Charles Leclerc to secure third during a race interrupted by a red flag following Valtteri Bottas’s accident and a late Safety Car after Arvid Lindblad crashed. Verstappen resisted Hamilton’s pressure to claim his third victory of the season.
Afterwards, an emotional Antonelli expressed gratitude to Mercedes, his family, friends and supporters. He attributed his title opportunity to a strong car early in the campaign and consistently competitive performances. Having acknowledged greater tension during the weekend, he said he could now enjoy the remaining races.
