Kimi Antonelli made history at the Mexico City Grand Prix by becoming Formula 1's youngest world champion. The 20-year-old Italian driver finished third for Mercedes behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, securing a 16th podium finish.
Antonelli is the first Italian to win the F1 title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He broke Sebastian Vettel's record for the youngest champion, set when Vettel won the title at 23 in 2010. Antonelli secured the crown despite a difficult start to the weekend: he fell ill before the race and missed Thursday's media day. He said he was still trying to realise what had happened and that sharing the moment with his family, including his parents and younger sister, was one he would always remember.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, took his sixth victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix. He said he loved the city and its fans and had no idea why he had won there six times.
Hamilton had secured pole position on Saturday but lost his position while battling his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for the lead on the fourth lap. Hamilton said he thought he had the pace to win but that it was not meant to be, adding that serious talks would be held behind the scenes. Leclerc finished fourth, McLaren's outgoing world champion Lando Norris was fifth and Antonelli's Mercedes teammate George Russell finished sixth.
After the Mexico City race, F1 will travel to Brazil before heading to Las Vegas. The final races of the season are scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi, though it remains unclear whether both will go ahead as planned amid ongoing regional instability.
Sources: Euronews English.