History has a new benchmark in Formula 1. Kimi Antonelli has written his name into the record books by becoming the youngest ever World Champion in the sport, sealing the deal with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Sharing the podium with race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton provided an unforgettable backdrop as the celebrations began. While standing on the top step of the podium would have been the ultimate scenario, joining two all-time greats for his coronation was something genuinely special for the Italian youngster.
The respect coming from the rest of the F1 grid tells the real story of how dominant this campaign has been. Max Verstappen pointed out the immense difficulty of delivering every single weekend in just your second season in the sport. “Because, of course, at his age as well, to be so solid, not make big mistakes, and of course, also beat your experienced team mate, he's just driven incredible,” Verstappen said, adding that he is very proud of how the newly crowned champion handled the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton echoed that sentiment, calling it one of the most special moments he can remember having in the paddock, while Lando Norris—the man Antonelli succeeds as World Champion—pulled no punches in his assessment. “Unbelievable,” Norris said of the achievement. “I think what he's done is he's blown everyone away. I hope everyone gives him enough credit for what he's achieved this year, because he's made everyone else look silly, he's driven that well, and he's been able to click with his car.” Norris also noted he is happy to see his number one go over to the 20-year-old.
Oscar Piastri highlighted the stellar work done by Mercedes in giving their driver the machinery and support to deliver, while Charles Leclerc admitted he was touched seeing Antonelli's parents getting emotional underneath the podium. Carlos Sainz praised the tactical masterclass of a brilliant first half of the year followed by a controlled second half, and Alex Albon pointed to a massive step forward in race pace compared to last year.
Peers closer in age were equally quick to applaud the milestone. Franco Colapinto called the championship a dream season defined by relentless consistency, and Gabriel Bortoleto admitted that watching someone he has known since childhood stand up to seasoned world champions without breaking is a massive source of inspiration.
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