QUICK TAKE | Seven Things to Know About Kimi Antonelli, F1’s Youngest World Champion
1. Why is Kimi Antonelli in the news?
The Mercedes driver became Formula 1’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days. He finished third in the Mexico City Grand Prix, behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, securing the title with four grands prix remaining.
2. Whose record did he break?
Sebastian Vettel’s. The German won his first championship in 2010 at 23 years and 134 days. Antonelli is also Italy’s first F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait. He achieved it driving for Mercedes.
3. How did third place win him the championship?
The title depends on points collected across the season. Antonelli arrived in Mexico needing only ninth place to guarantee the crown. Third earned him 15 points, taking his total to 380 and putting the championship beyond his rivals’ reach.
4. How early did Mercedes spot him?
At 12. Born in Bologna on August 25, 2006, Andrea Kimi Antonelli joined Mercedes’ junior programme in April 2019. He won the Italian and German Formula 4 titles in 2022, followed by two Formula Regional championships in 2023.
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5. How did he get Hamilton’s seat?
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for 2025 created the opening. Mercedes promoted Antonelli after a single Formula 2 season, in which he finished sixth with two wins. He had skipped Formula 3. The announcement came shortly after his 18th birthday.
6. Was he immediately a title contender?
His rookie season in 2025 produced seventh place, 150 points and three podiums. This year, his record through Mexico includes nine grand prix victories and 16 podium finishes. His first F1 win came in China in March, followed by victories in Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco.
7. Is the season over?
Four races remain: Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. São Paulo hosts the next weekend on November 6–8. Antonelli can add to his win tally. F1 also awards a separate constructors’ championship, based on points collected by both drivers in each team.