Antonelli savours 'incredible' maiden title after clinching crown in Mexico

Kimi Antonelli is a World Champion. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver sealed his maiden title at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a third-place finish behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton — a podium that placed him alongside two of the sport's modern greats.

Why it matters:

Antonelli becomes the youngest World Champion in F1 history and Italy's first in 73 years. His 380 points across 19 rounds put the crown mathematically beyond reach with races to spare, turning the closing stretch of the season into a coronation rather than a fight.

The details:

• Starting fourth, Antonelli climbed into the top three with a bold pass on Charles Leclerc's Ferrari — the decisive move of his afternoon.
• He embraced his family and Mercedes team members before stepping onto the podium.
• "We did it," he said. "Without them, I wouldn't be here — without Mercedes, without my family. It's one that will live forever. I'm speechless."
• He admitted the weekend carried extra weight: "I did feel a bit more tense, but I'm just so happy that we got it done."
• The title was built on early-season consistency rather than flash. "Very early on, we had such a strong car, and we were very consistent and put in the performance," he added.

What's next:

With the championship settled, Antonelli intends to savour the remaining rounds. "We're just going to enjoy it all the way, because this is a very special moment," he said. The question now is whether Mercedes can carry this momentum forward — and whether Verstappen and Hamilton, who shared his title podium, can close the gap next season.