Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest F1 World Champion at 20

Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest world champion on November 1, 2026, securing his first Drivers’ Championship with third place in the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver clinched the title at 20 years and 68 days, with four rounds remaining.

According to Formula 1’s official race report , Antonelli finished behind winner Max Verstappen and runner up Lewis Hamilton. He needed only ninth place to guarantee the championship, regardless of his rivals’ results.

The updated standings as of November 2 put Antonelli on 380 points, 119 ahead of Verstappen. Hamilton is third with 259 points, followed by George Russell on 250 and Charles Leclerc on 245.

How Antonelli Secured the Title in Mexico?

Antonelli started fourth and passed Leclerc on his way to a podium finish in a race interrupted by a red flag and a late Safety Car, according to Formula 1.

The updated official classification placed him 4.006 seconds behind Verstappen. His third place earned 15 points, comfortably exceeding the two points he needed to settle the championship.

Russell and Hamilton had entered Mexico as his only remaining title challengers. Verstappen’s victory moved him into second in the standings, but he had already been eliminated from championship contention after the previous round in Austin.

A Record Previously Held by Sebastian Vettel

Antonelli surpassed Sebastian Vettel, who won his first world championship at 23 years and 134 days at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 14, 2010, according to Guinness World Records .

Formula 1’s driver profile lists Antonelli’s birth date as August 25, 2006, making him 20 years and 68 days old at the Mexico race.

He also became Italy’s first Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, according to Sky Sports . After the race, Antonelli thanked Mercedes and his family and said, “I’m speechless.”

Austin Victory Set Up the Decisive Result

Antonelli had moved to the brink of the championship with victory at the United States Grand Prix on October 25.

According to Formula 1, he converted pole position into his ninth win of the season, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Hamilton’s fourth place and Russell’s eighth kept the title mathematically undecided until Mexico.

The championship is now settled, but the season continues. Brazil is next on November 6 to 8, followed by Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The November 2 standings therefore remain provisional season totals, not the final championship classification.