Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, clinching his first title at the age of 20 after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
He achieved the milestone in just his second season in Formula 1, having taken over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes for the 2025 campaign.
Antonelli is by far the youngest driver to claim the title, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s previous record. Vettel secured his first world championship in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days.
His victory also ended a 73‑year drought for Italy, which had not produced a third Formula 1 world champion since the early days of the sport.
Italy has historically dominated the early era of Formula 1, claiming three of the first four drivers’ championships. Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina won the inaugural title with Alfa Romeo in 1950, followed by Alberto Ascari’s back‑to‑back victories for Ferrari in 1952 and 1953.
Following an inconsistent rookie season, Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in March. That win marked the start of an impressive streak of five consecutive triumphs, establishing a championship lead he never lost.
He added further victories in Belgium and Spain, and delivered a spectacular home‑soil triumph at the Italian Grand Prix. Starting from 19th on the grid, Antonelli overtook the field to claim victory at Monza, becoming the first Italian to win at his home track since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.
Mercedes teammate George Russell entered the season as the favorite and won the opening round in Australia, but he was gradually eclipsed by his younger teammate as the campaign progressed.
Antonelli’s achievement also marks the second consecutive year that Formula 1 has crowned a first‑time world champion, after McLaren’s Lando Norris won the title in 2025.
At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Antonelli finished third, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
A ninth‑place finish would have secured the championship, and with four races remaining, he has now mathematically clinched the title.
Antonelli joins an elite list of 36 different drivers to win the world championship.
Among his 35 predecessors, 18 have won a single title, while 17 have added further championships to their résumé.