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Mercedes' Antonelli becomes Formula One's youngest champion at 20

Italian driver Kimi Antonelli has clinched the Formula One world championship at 20 years and 68 days old, making history as the sport's youngest titleholder. The Mercedes driver secured the honour with a third-place finish at Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.

LSN Singapore · 2 November 2026

Mercedes' Antonelli becomes Formula One's youngest champion at 20

Antonelli's milestone achievement came in emotional circumstances at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where he crossed the line behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who took victory in a race that was red-flagged and restarted during proceedings.

The Italian's championship triumph represents a watershed moment in Formula One, breaking the previous record for the youngest world champion. At just over 20 years old, Antonelli has surpassed the achievements of previous young titleholders in the sport's 75-year history.

The Mercedes driver's path to the championship culminated in Mexico City, one of Formula One's most demanding circuits. Despite not winning Sunday's race, Antonelli's consistent performance throughout the season secured him enough points to wrap up the title with races still remaining on the calendar.

Verstappen's victory marked another strong showing for Red Bull, which continues to demonstrate competitive pace across multiple venues. The result underscores the ongoing intensity of competition at the top level of motorsport.

Antonelli's coronation as champion signals a changing of the guard in Formula One, with the young Italian now positioned among the sport's elite drivers and record-holders.