A title and a record for Formula 1 history
Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli has restored the pride of Italian drivers in Formula 1. Seventy-three years after Alberto Ascari’s back-to-back titles (1953, Maserati), Italy once again has a legitimate and undisputed world champion. Antonelli established a new benchmark for the youngest title winners. Prior to Kimi, the youngest driver to claim the championship was Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, at 23 years, 4 months, and 11 days (2010). Antonelli is 20 years, 2 months, and 7 days old. That record will not be easy to break. Mercedes celebrates a world champion once again after 6 years, the last being Lewis Hamilton in 2020. This Sunday at Interlagos, Antonelli will contest his first race as world champion at the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix.
The Mexican GP this Sunday (11/1) featured a podium befitting the crowning of a new champion. Three drivers from distinct generations stood together: Max Verstappen, the winner, Lewis Hamilton (2nd), and Kimi Antonelli, the new world champion, in 3rd. In total, 12 world championships and 189 victories. That figure marks an F1 record, surpassing the 11 combined titles seen on the 2023 Australian GP podium with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso, who held 11 titles between them at the time.
To seal the championship, Kimi Antonelli drove a cautious race. He started 4th and finished 3rd, avoiding minor incidents such as Charles Leclerc pushing Lewis Hamilton off the track at the start—an infraction penalized with 5 seconds—or George Russell, who held mathematical chances for the title, receiving a 10-second penalty after making contact with Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull. A heavy crash into the barriers by Valtteri Bottas due to a loose wheel forced the race to be red-flagged on lap 47. On the restart, Max Verstappen held the lead, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli all the way to the checkered flag. Following penalties handed to Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, and Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto finished 8th, picking up 4 more points and overtaking his teammate Nico Hülkenberg in the championship standings.
With this triumph coming in his second season—Antonelli took over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes in 2025—the Italian driver joins a select group. The only others to achieve this feat were Juan Manuel Fangio (debut in 1950, title in 1951), Jacques Villeneuve (debut in 1996, title in 1997), and Lewis Hamilton (debut in 2007, title in 2008).
On his march to the title, Antonelli claimed 9 victories (China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco, Belgium, Italy, Spain, United States) and secured 7 pole positions (China, Japan, Miami, Monaco, Great Britain, Belgium, and United States). Antonelli also crossed the line first in the sprint race at Silverstone during the British GP.
A native of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna—less than 50 kilometers from Maranello (Ferrari’s storied headquarters) and 40 kilometers from Imola—Andrea Antonelli began karting at age 7, earned back-to-back European championships, won the Italian F4 championship, and joined the Mercedes Junior Team before reaching F1 in 2025. He concluded that championship in 7th place. His standout performance came at the São Paulo F1 GP, climbing to 2nd place on the podium after holding off Max Verstappen, who finished 3rd.
Due to friction with the Haas team, Esteban Ocon was sidelined for the race at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit and replaced by reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa. Ocon is not expected to contest the rest of the championship. Hirakawa or Jack Doohan should compete in the remaining rounds. In 2027, Ocon’s seat at Haas will be taken by Rafael Câmara, hailing from Pernambuco.