Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest Formula One World Champion at 20

Kimi Antonelli became the youngest world champion in Formula One history on Sunday. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished third in the Mexico City Grand Prix and took an unassailable lead in the standings.

Antonelli crossed the line at 20 years and 68 days old. Sebastian Vettel held the previous record at 23 years and 134 days when he won his first title in 2010. Antonelli is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

He started the Mexico City race from fourth. Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the race for the sixth time at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari finished second after starting from pole. Antonelli’s third place gave him a 119-point lead over his nearest rivals with four races remaining.

On team radio after the chequered flag, Antonelli’s voice cracked. He repeated “we did it” several times. Later he said he was speechless and trying to process the result. He credited Mercedes and his family.

The race featured two safety cars, multiple crashes and a 33-minute red-flag stoppage with 25 laps left. Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc clashed early. Verstappen controlled the restarted race. Antonelli held position through the chaos and needed only a solid points finish to clinch the title.

Antonelli replaced Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 season. He is in his second full campaign. Earlier this year he became the youngest polesitter and the youngest driver to lead the championship. He has already won nine grands prix.

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali noted that Italy had waited 73 years for this moment. Antonelli’s five consecutive wins from China to Monaco earlier in the season had put him in control. Teammate George Russell started the year as the favourite but finished only sixth in Mexico.

The next race is in São Paulo. Mercedes also leads the constructors’ championship by a wide margin. Antonelli will carry the number one plate next season. The previous youngest champions list now starts with him, followed by Vettel, Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and Fernando Alonso in 2005.

The achievement ends a long Italian drought at the top of the sport. Ascari won consecutive titles in 1952 and 1953. Giuseppe Farina was the first champion in 1950. Antonelli’s path from karting through junior series to this title took less than a decade.