Kimi Antonelli makes history as youngest-ever Formula One champion at 20

Kimi Antonelli (center) celebrates on the podium with Max Verstappen (left) and Lewis Hamilton after the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday. | REUTERS

Nov 2, 2026

Mexico City – A tearful Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days old on Sunday when he finished third for Mercedes in a red-flagged and restarted Mexico City Grand Prix won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The first Italian champion since 1953 sobbed with joy over the team radio as he took the checkered flag at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with his overall lead now an unassailable 119 points.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton started from pole position and took a close second place — after clashing with teammate Charles Leclerc — on an afternoon of drama with two safety cars, multiple crashes and an agonizing 33-minute halt with 25 of the 71 laps remaining.

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