History has a new face, and it belongs to Kimi Antonelli. The 20-year-old sealed his maiden Drivers' Championship in style with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, etching his name into the record books in the process.
That P3 finish was more than enough to put the title beyond mathematical reach after 19 rounds, where he amassed 380 points. In doing so, he joins illustrious company like Graham Hill and Denny Hulme in clinching the crown at this venue. Oh, and he also becomes the sport's youngest-ever World Champion, alongside being Italy's first in 73 years.
It’s starting to get real, and I’m going to enjoy every bit of it,
Getting there required proper racing grit. Starting from fourth on the grid, Antonelli pulled off a bold overtake on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to force his way into the top three. Up front, it was Red Bull's Max Verstappen who took the race victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but the Italian's podium spot secured the ultimate prize.
“We did it,” Antonelli said after the race. “You know, without them, 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. I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened.”
The emotions were entirely raw on the podium, where he shared the step with Verstappen and Hamilton. “It’s been an incredible season, and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. And yeah, looking forward to some more battles in the future,” he added. Admitting to feeling extra tension over the weekend, he noted that the relief of getting the job done meant he and the team could finally enjoy the rest of the season.
Looking back on how the campaign unfolded, the young champion pointed to early pace and relentless consistency as the foundation of his success. With the title now officially locked down, the celebrations are set to follow.
“It’s starting to get real, and I’m going to enjoy every bit of it,” Antonelli said. “I mean, I’m going to go all out, right? I’m going to go all out with my family, friends, and the team. And we’re just going to enjoy it all the way, because this is a very special moment, one that we’ll remember forever.”
F1
F1
F1
