Kimi Antonelli Makes History: World Champion at 20! Verstappen Wins in Mexico Ahead of Hamilton

Andrea Kimi Antonelli becomes the Formula 1 world champion at the age of twenty: the driver from Bologna is making motorsports history, becoming the youngest world champion ever in the series and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari, who triumphed 73 years ago with Ferrari.

A third-place finish in Mexico was enough for the Mercedes driver, following a chaotic race filled with twists and turns and a restart from the grid after an accident involving Bottas. Max Verstappen won the Grand Prix, taking the top step of the podium in his Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who finished second. A podium of world champions—the perfect way to celebrate Formula 1’s rising star, who, upon stepping out of his car, ran to embrace his father Marco, his sister, and his mother.

The race was marked by a scuffle at the start between the two Ferraris driven by Hamilton and Leclerc: the Monegasque driver took the lead by cutting the track and was unable to give the position back to his (furious) teammate because Verstappen had wedged himself between the two Ferraris. The Dutchman took advantage of the tensions within the Ferrari team and Leclerc’s subsequent penalty from the race stewards to take the lead and win the race. Leclerc finished fourth ahead of former world champion Norris and the other Mercedes driven by George Russell.

Race results (top 10)
Verstappen
Hamilton
Antonelli
Leclerc
Norris
Russell
Piastri
Colapinto
Lawson
Gasly