Kimi Antonelli's coronation is complete.
The 20-year-old Mercedes phenom became the youngest drivers' champion in Formula 1 history Sunday, clinching the title by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Antonelli, in only his second F1 season, smashed a record previously set in 2010, when 23-year-old Sebastian Vettel won the championship for Red Bull.
Max Verstappen took the checkered flag in Mexico, giving the Red Bull driver three first-place finishes in his last four races. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion that Antonelli replaced at Mercedes last season, crossed the line in second.
WHAT. A. MOMENT! 🥹🙌 #F1 #MexicoGP https://t.co/YvBdmiyMoR
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 1, 2026
"Thank you so much, we did it, we did it, thank you so much ... thank you," an emotional Antonelli said on the team radio after clinching the title.
Sunday's result also made Antonelli the series' first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending an almost inconceivable 73-year drought for the country.
Antonelli entered Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez knowing that he just needed to finish ninth or better to seal his historic triumph. That was more than enough cushion for the prodigious driver, who started fifth on the grid and easily collected the points needed to seal a title that had become increasingly inevitable as the season progressed.
Antonelli won five of the year's first six races and delivered arguably the campaign's most memorable moment by winning his home race at the Italian Grand Prix, despite starting 19th on the grid.
"This is just the beginning. This win is just going to mark a new beginning, a new point to build on to keep improving and to keep trying to win championships," Antonelli told Sky Sports after Sunday's race.
"Obviously, it's been incredible to share the podium with Max and Lewis and hopefully there will be many more battles with them in the future."
