Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion in Mexico City
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver secured the title after finishing third in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion on Sunday, November 1, after finishing third at the Mexican Grand Prix. According to reports from Times Now, Hindustan Times, and Deccan Herald, the 20-year-old Italian driver secured the title at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City with four races remaining in the season.
Antonelli, aged 20 years and 68 days, broke the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won in 2010. He is the first Italian to win the championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
The race was won by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton finished second. The Grand Prix included a red flag on lap 46 after Valtteri Bottas crashed his Cadillac into the barriers at the first corner following a suspension failure.
Following the restart, Verstappen led the field, followed by Charles Leclerc, Hamilton, Antonelli, Lando Norris, and George Russell. Hamilton had started on pole but lost the position during a battle with Leclerc, which resulted in a five-second penalty for the Ferrari driver.
Antonelli said he was speechless and was trying to process the incredible season. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated that a new chapter in history had been written and that the driver's name joins the legends of the sport.