Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest Formula One world champion in history at the age of 20, taking the title at the Mexican Grand Prix. A third-place finish was enough to secure the championship early, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race during Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities.
The title comes after nine wins and 16 podiums in 19 of 23 races. Antonelli is the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari, who won his second and final title with Ferrari in 1953. For Mercedes, it is the first drivers' title since 2020.
Antonelli's remaining mathematical rivals, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, had done their part in qualifying. Hamilton took pole position, his first as a Ferrari driver and his first in more than three years, while Antonelli's teammate Russell qualified second. Antonelli started fourth and needed only ninth place to clinch the title.
He had been slowed by a virus during the week and admitted after Saturday qualifying that he had perhaps been a little tense. On Sunday, however, he said he felt very good and made clear he wanted at least a podium finish rather than a controlled title run.
At the start, Antonelli stayed out of the battles among his rivals. Russell lost several positions and received a time penalty for a collision with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar. The Ferrari drivers fought hard at the front, and Charles Leclerc was given a five-second penalty. Leclerc initially led ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton, who complained over team radio about the lenient penalty.
After the first tire changes, Verstappen took the lead. Later, all cars came into the pits and the race was interrupted for cleanup after Valtteri Bottas crashed. In the pit lane, Antonelli appeared confident and smiled as he spoke with his team.
At the standing restart, Verstappen stayed ahead and Hamilton passed Leclerc. Antonelli also overtook Leclerc to move into third place, putting him on course for the historic title.
Sources: Der Spiegel.