Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - Italian racing driver Kimi Antonelli has made history by becoming the youngest Formula 1 world champion at the age of 20.
The Mercedes driver secured his maiden Drivers' Championship
after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, November 1,,
with four races still remaining in the season.
Antonelli, aged 20 years and 68 days, broke the longstanding
record held by former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest
F1 champion at 23 years and 134 days in 2010.
He entered the race knowing that a ninth-place finish would
be enough to guarantee the title, regardless of how his closest rivals, Lewis
Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell, performed.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race, finishing ahead of
Ferrari's Hamilton, while Antonelli completed the podium in third place to seal
the championship.
His triumph also ended Italy's 73-year wait for an F1 world
champion, making him the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in
1953.
Antonelli, who is in only his second season in Formula 1,
celebrated the historic achievement with his family and Mercedes team.
"We did it. And, you know, without them, I wouldn't be
here. Without Mercedes, without my family," he said after the race.
Max Verstappen was among the first to congratulate
Antonelli, saying: "It's amazing to see the whole team of course,
celebrating with him. His family is here as well, so I'm sure this is a very
emotional day for him, and I'm very proud of him."
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