Antonelli becomes youngest F1 champion, declares 'this is just the beginning'

Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 world championship with third place behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the Mexico City Grand Prix, opening an unassailable 121-point lead with four races remaining. At 20 years and 68 days old, the Mercedes driver became the youngest champion in F1 history, breaking Sebastian Vettel's 2010 record.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's title ends a 73-year wait for Italy and makes him the first champion born in the 21st century. He is the 36th different title winner and joins Fangio, Hamilton and Rosberg as a Mercedes champion.

The details:

• Antonelli has nine wins, 16 podiums and seven poles in 2026.
• He finished seventh as a rookie in 2025, with three podiums and a difficult mid-season run.
• "This is just the beginning," he said. "This win is just going to mark a new beginning."
• Toto Wolff stood by his decision to promote Antonelli despite early doubts; race engineer Peter Bonnington called him a generational talent.

What's next:

With four rounds left, Antonelli can now race freely while Mercedes builds around him. His rapid rise has already changed the team's future—and raised the prospect of a long title rivalry.