Kimi Antonelli becomes Formula 1 World Champion at 20

Kimi Antonelli is the Formula 1 World Champion. The Mercedes driver from Italy reached 380 points after the Mexican Grand Prix, the 19th race of the season, and mathematically secured the title with four races remaining. Antonelli finished third in Mexico City.

Points gap and remaining races

Second-placed Max Verstappen is on 261 points, leaving a gap of 119. The most points still available over the four remaining races is 100, so Antonelli's rivals can no longer catch him. Lewis Hamilton is on 259, George Russell on 250 and Charles Leclerc on 245, behind Verstappen.

Antonelli has won nine races this season. According to Motorsport.com, one of those wins was a home victory at Monza, where he started 19th. Mercedes's recovery under the new regulations and the consistency of the young driver laid the foundation for the title.

Age and historic record

Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006 and was 20 years and two months old on the day he won the title. According to official data, the record for the youngest world champion in F1 history previously belonged to Sebastian Vettel, who won in 2010 aged 23 years and 134 days. Motorsport.com wrote that Antonelli broke that record by about three years.

According to sources, Antonelli is also the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, 73 years ago. Giuseppe Farina (1950) and Ascari (1952 and 1953) are the other Italian drivers to have won the title.

Reaction after the race

Antonelli thanked his team over the radio in tears as he crossed the line. Race engineer Peter Bonnington told him that this was only the first chapter. Antonelli said he was grateful to Mercedes and his family and was still trying to take in what had happened.

Verstappen, a four-time champion who won the race, said he found Antonelli's season and his success at such a young age very impressive. Hamilton, a seven-time champion, said he was happy to witness the youngest world champion in history. The three drivers shared the podium.