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Kimi Antonelli Becomes F1's Youngest Champion at 20
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In Short: Kimi Antonelli, 20, became Formula 1's youngest world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli, 20, became Formula 1's youngest world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, breaking the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel, who won at 23 years and 134 days old in 2010.
Antonelli's third-place finish secured an unassailable 119-point lead over his nearest competitor, making him the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Antonelli's teammate George Russell finished sixth, falling short of his preseason expectations and dropping to fourth in the standings, 130 points behind Antonelli.
Antonelli's achievement is particularly remarkable given that he was still a teenager until August 25 and secured the title in his second season.
"I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened," Antonelli said to the crowd, adding, "I’m still trying to realize and understand at the moment what has just happened because, you know, when you work so hard since I was a kid, I’ve been dreaming of achieving this, and when you finally achieve it, it’s truly, truly special," he said in a post-race press conference.
"We did it, we did it. I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I’m very grateful for this moment and it’s one that will live forever," Antonelli said after the race.
"Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world," said his race engineer Peter Bonnington, a regular target for Antonelli’s practical jokes.
"We are very close. We try to finish on a high and hopefully we can clinch it very soon," Antonelli said, looking forward to the remaining races.
Background
Kimi Antonelli, 20, became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli, 20, became Formula 1's youngest world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
What's confirmed
- “Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world,” said his race engineer Peter Bonnington, a regular target for the young driver’s practical jokes.
- Kimi Antonelli has become Formula One’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days old with his third-place finish for Mercedes at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- The previous youngest champion was Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, who took the first of his four with Red Bull at 23 years and 134 days old in 2010.
- That also meant that Verstappen went second in the overall standings, with Hamilton third and preseason favourite Russell plummeting to fourth, 130 points behind Antonelli.
- “I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened,” Antonelli said to the crowd.
- “Pushed out by my own teammate,” Hamilton said over the radio.
- “So it was just good to bring it home.” Leclerc finished fourth, McLaren’s outgoing champion Lando Norris fifth, and Antonelli’s teammate George Russell only sixth in a race he had to win to have any chance of staying in contention.
What's still developing
- He failed to score in China and finished seventh in Brazil, which allowed Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to pip both Hamilton and fellow McLaren driver Fernando Alonso by a single point.
- We take a look at F1's other young champions and how Antonelli's achievement compares with theirs.
- In Monaco, he became the youngest driver to complete a 'grand slam' of pole position, fastest lap, leading every lap and winning the race.
- Antonelli joined that list in Monaco, making him the youngest driver ever to earn this accolade.
- Antonelli stormed to victory at the Italian Grand Prix, despite having started 19th on the grid.
- Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka subdued American Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-3 on Sunday to reach the US Open quarter-finals without dropping a set.
- AUSTIN, Texas — Kimi Antonelli is sitting on the cusp of history.
- The reigning World Champion started on pole for Formula 1's first race at the Madring and, after rebuffing fellow front-row starter Kimi Antonelli at Turn 1, he built up a comfortable lead in the opening stages.
- The four-time champion, cleared of a false start, claimed his 74th career win – his sixth in Mexico – by 0.799 seconds, with Antonelli finishing four seconds behind.