Nate SaundersNov 1, 2026, 05:24 PM ETCloseMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsKimi Antonelli became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, clinching his first title at 20 years old after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.Antonelli accomplished it in only his second year of F1, having replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.He is the youngest to do it by some margin. Sebastian Vettel was the previous record holder, winning his first title in 2010 aged 23 years and 134 days.Antonelli’s title ended Italy’s 73-year wait to have a third Formula 1 world champion.Italy claimed three of the first four drivers’ championships. Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina won the inaugural title with Alfa Romeo in 1950, before Alberto Ascari won back-to-back championships for Ferrari in 1952 and 1953.After an up-and-down rookie season, Antonelli claimed his first F1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in March, kicking off a remarkable run of five consecutive wins that gave him a championship lead he never relinquished.He also earned victories in Belgium, Spain and a stunning triumph on home soil at the Italian Grand Prix. Antonelli came from 19th on the grid to win at Monza, becoming the first Italian to win his home race since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.- In pictures: The moments that defined Kimi Antonelli’s F1 title-winning season – Max Verstappen wins Mexico City GP for Red Bull; Kimi Antonelli seals historic title – Kimi Antonelli’s historic F1 title: Every record broken and milestone reachedMercedes teammate George Russell had entered the season as the overwhelming championship favorite and won the opening race in Australia, but he was increasingly overshadowed by his younger teammate as the year went on.Antonelli’s triumph means Formula 1 has crowned a first-time world champion in consecutive seasons, following McLaren’s Lando Norris in 2025.Antonelli finished the Mexico City Grand Prix in third, behind race winner Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari.He needed to cross the line ninth or higher and has now wrapped up the title with four races of the season to go.Antonelli becomes the 36th different driver to win the world championship.Of the 35 before him, 18 have won the title once, while 17 have gone on to claim at least one more championship.
