Rivals hail Antonelli as youngest F1 champion after Mexico title clinch

Kimi Antonelli sealed the F1 world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to clinch the title with four races remaining. At 20 years and 68 days, the Mercedes driver is F1’s youngest champion and the first Italian title winner since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Rivals were unanimous in their praise.

Why it matters:

Antonelli’s run has reset the benchmark for young drivers. Winning in only his second season—against a strong teammate and established champions—underlined Mercedes’ progress and his maturity.

The details:

• Max Verstappen called the season “really, really impressive” and said doing it at such an age stood out.
• Lewis Hamilton praised the “phenomenal” youngest champion and was grateful to witness it.
• Charles Leclerc said the title was “fully deserved,” noting Antonelli “didn’t put a step wrong” all year.
• Lando Norris said Antonelli “blown everyone away,” highlighting his consistency and low error count.
• Oscar Piastri called it a “championship win” rather than a battle and credited Mercedes for delivering the car.
• Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Arvid Lindblad also saluted his speed and composure.

What’s next:

With four rounds left, focus shifts to whether Antonelli can add more wins and whether rivals can respond before 2027.