Kimi Antonelli has made F1 history by becoming the sport’s youngest-ever world champion at the age of just 20 years and 68 days.
After winning last week’s United States Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver knew he would be destined for glory in Mexico as long as he did not lose more than 23 points to team-mate George Russell or more than 24 to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
And the Italian duly delivered in Mexico City as he finished third, meaning he had beaten the record of Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won the first of his four drivers’ championships in 2010.
The feat is all the more remarkable considering this is just his second season in the sport.
Antonelli also becomes the first Italian to win the F1 title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
‘We did it, we did it. I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I’m very grateful for this moment and it’s one that will live forever,’ said an emotional and ecstatic Antonelli over the team radio as he crossed the chequered flag.
‘I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened.’
Speaking post-race, Antonelli revealed he was crying tears of joy going into the final lap of the race too.
‘Already the lap before, I think I lost probably two seconds because I was already crying, basically. I couldn’t see clearly ahead,’ he said.
‘I could see two Ferraris somehow with the tears. So, it was very special. A lot of memories went through my mind in that moment, all the memories since karting all the way to here.
‘It was a very special final lap, and definitely, when I crossed the line, I let it all out because it was just achieving one of my biggest dreams. It was very special.’
Max Verstappen wins the Mexican Grand Prix
Aside from Antonelli’s astonishing feat, Max Verstappen won his third F1 race out of the last four as the Red Bull driver capitalised on tension within Ferrari to triumph.
Having started on pole, Hamilton found himself in a tussle with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – who qualified third – in the opening lap.
After overtaking Russell, who started second, Leclerc challenged Hamilton through Turns One, Two and Three before both cars went off at the Turn Four/Five chicane. As a result Leclerc dived around the outside on to the grass before cutting the corner to lead. Meanwhile Hamilton returned to the track but the incident allowed Verstappen to pounce and leapfrog him into second.
Lewis Hamilton unhappy with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc
The incident left Hamilton, who finished second, raging post-race.
‘Ultimately, that lost us the win today,’ said Hamilton. ‘We have to have some serious talks behind closed doors. We could have easily had a one-two today, we had the pace to do so.
‘We’re going into Turn Four first and second. If we just held position, I think anything can happen in the race. But when your team-mate works against you and then you lose positions like that, it’s definitely tough.
‘So we’ll just talk about it offline and it’s not really worth saying too much more. We don’t have rules of engagement. And whether or not that would change anything from Charles’ side, I don’t know. We’ve just got to figure out. But something needs to change for sure.
‘The guy’s 28 years old, so I don’t think it’s an age thing. I think it’s a mentality thing. It’s like do or die, either I win or none of us do, and it shouldn’t be that.’
When made aware about Hamilton’s mood, Leclerc – who finished fourth – said: ‘I will speak with Lewis. We both didn’t make the corner. I don’t know if Lewis’ point was for me to get P3 but having the Red Bull second I felt it was worth it to keep the position and see what happened. That’s what I did.
‘I could be also unhappy with how much he pushed me off track out of Turn One, but it is racing. When you are fighting for a win it is the way it should be.’
Last year’s world champion Lando Norris (fifth), Russell (sixth), Oscar Piastri (seventh), Franco Colapinto (eighth), Liam Lawson (ninth) and Pierre Gasly (10th) rounded out the top 10.
What’s next?
F1 now heads down to South America next week with the Brazilian Grand Prix – in what will be the first race the historic Antonelli will partake in as a world champion.
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