Kimi Antonelli, World Champion after P3 in Mexico: “What’s just happened here?”

Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1 World Champion! A third-place finish in the eventful Mexican Grand Prix was enough for the Italian to become the youngest champion in the premier class in 77 years, at the age of 20.

This is Antonelli’s 19th podium finish in Formula 1 (equalling the tally of Dan Gurney, Patrick Depailler, Mario Andretti and Giancarlo Fisichella), coming in the form of a third-place finish at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, behind Verstappen and Hamilton. Kimi was never in with a chance of securing his tenth Grand Prix victory on the day; his rivals were simply too strong today – but never mind!

Today marks the third time the championship has been decided on 1 November, following Nelson Piquet in 1987 and Mika Häkkinen in 1998.

It is the sixth championship decider in Mexico, following John Surtees in 1964, Denny Hulme in 1967, Graham Hill in 1968, and Lewis Hamilton in 2017 and 2018 (our photo).

Kimi Antonelli is the first Formula 1 champion to have been born after 2000.

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Antonelli is the third Italian Formula 1 world champion after Giuseppe Farina (1950) and Alberto Ascari (1952/1953). This also makes him the first Italian ‘campione’ in 73 years! Ascari in our photo from Bremgarten, Switzerland, wearing his famous blue shirt.

Verstappen 2024, Norris 2025, Antonelli 2026: for the first time since Hamilton in 2008, Button in 2009 and Vettel in 2010, we have three different champions in three years.

Antonelli is also the fourth Mercedes champion in Formula 1, following Juan Manuel Fangio (1954/1955), Lewis Hamilton (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and Nico Rosberg (2016).

Kimi Antonelli was crying his eyes out during the cool-down lap, then he looked back on his Mexican Grand Prix as follows: “It’s finally done – I’m so relieved! Without my fabulous family, without Mercedes and without this brilliant team, this day wouldn’t have been possible; I’ll never forget these moments for the rest of my life.”

“I can’t believe what’s just happened. I mean, I know it’s true, but somehow I can’t quite take it in. I’m finding it hard to find the right words.”

“And then to be standing on the podium with Max and Lewis, two such legends. Standing alongside them, alongside these legends, is a great honour for me and makes me feel humble. I hope I can have many more wheel-to-wheel battles with them in the future.”

“I’ve always said that I don’t feel the pressure in the title race, but to be completely honest – today, before the race, I was actually very tense because I knew exactly what could happen.”

“I’m over the moon. I’ve achieved my main goal; now I can enjoy the rest of the season to the full without having to constantly think about the title.”