At 20 years, two months and seven days of age, Kimi Antonelli has become F1’s youngest ever world champion after securing a podium finish at the 2026 Mexico City GP, beating Sebastian Vettel’s previous record that had stood for nearly 16 years.
Antonelli talks through “critical move” on Leclerc in 2026 F1 Mexico City GP
The youngster from Mercedes managed a calm and collected drive at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, in which he only needed to finish ninth or better to secure the title, by completing a bold move on Charles Leclerc on lap 48 of the race.
It came after the Italian had stayed out on his initial set of soft tyres for over 40 laps, in order to create an offset compared to the leaders – but that all went away as the red flag was thrown out for Valtteri Bottas’ crashed Cadillac:
“It was a fun race. I think we had a strong pace, especially in that first stint, when we went for 40+ laps on the soft and we were still very quick,” he recalled. “We were able to create a big offset on tyre, and when I came out of the pits, I was like ‘We have a good chance to fight and to catch the leaders back’.
“But then, of course, with the red flag, everything, kind of went back to zero, everyone then put fresh tyres and we were back to base.
“[After] then it was good. I think the move on Charles [Leclerc] was critical into turn one. We were all pushing, the three of us. It was a very high pace, but of course, it was a bit hard to follow, mainly for temperatures.
“We had to manage a lot, brake temperatures in the race, so couldn’t push as much, but it was still very fun and, yeah, well deserved to Max [Verstappen] and Lewis [Hamilton].“
Antonelli had to “back off” to avoid crashing due to high emotions on the final lap of 2026 F1 Mexico City GP
Speaking of his last stint of the grand prix, Antonelli recalled the “very fun” and tight battle he had at the front with Hamilton and Verstappen, and even revealed that such was the emotions he felt on the last lap, knowing he was about to realise his dream of becoming a Formula One world champion, he had to slow down in order to avoid crashing his Mercedes:
“I had the opportunity to gain a few places and that move on Charles was crucial to get on the podium. And then I tried until the end to stay close and it was very fun, the last stint, because we were all, I think the three of us, we were all within two seconds and we were all pushing and just difficult, of course, to overtake,” he added. “But it was high intensity and it was fun.
“And then, of course, the last lap, I just backed off because I just couldn’t see the track. I was getting emotional and I said, ‘I’m just going to back off because otherwise I crash here’. So it was just good to bring it home.
“I think I lost probably two seconds because I was already crying, basically,” he revealed. “I couldn’t see clearly ahead. I could see two Ferraris somehow, with the tears. It was very special and a lot of memories went through my mind in that moment.
“All the memories since karting all the way to here. So it was a very special final lap and definitely when I crossed the line, I let it all out, because achieving one of my biggest dreams was very special.”
Antonelli “still trying to understand” his championship triumph after 2026 F1 Mexico City GP
The newly-crowned world champion didn’t hide from the fact that he’s still processing and “trying to understand” the magnitude of what he’s just achieved, given the intense nature of the championship and the flood of emotions that hit him as he was able to share his childhood dream with family and close friends at the world stage on the famous Foro Sol podium:
“I’m still trying to realise and understand at the moment what has just happened,” he admitted. “Because when you work so hard, and since I was a kid, I’ve been dreaming of achieving this.
“And when you finally achieve it, it’s truly, truly special. Obviously, all the emotions as well come out. And to be able as well to share this moment, to witness this moment with my whole family, with my team, and part of my friends as well is a moment that will be always remembered.
“I’m just super happy and grateful for what has just happened. All the opportunity, all the support that I’ve got, not only this year, but since I joined the team as well.
“So [I’m] just going to try to enjoy it all the way and then enjoy as well the rest of the season because we still got a few races to go- we still want to finish on a high. And then, obviously, this new point where to start again, build on and improve.”
“I will frame that picture”: Antonelli on “truly special” podium moment with Verstappen and Hamilton
Not only was the 20-year-old able to celebrate his championship glory on the famously electric atmosphere of the Foro Sol, he did it alongside two F1 legends in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
The podium ceremony was followed by a lovely moment afterwards, in which both Hamilton and Verstappen lifted Antonelli up in their arms, celebrating the youngster’s success in style. When asked about the moment, Antonelli regarded the moment as one he will “definitely” frame and put up in a visible spot in his house:
“[It was] incredible,” he said. “It happened in Canada as well this year, earlier in the year. But obviously, this is extra special.
“I will definitely frame the picture and put it in my house because it’s just an incredible moment. And as well to see so much respect from two incredible drivers who have done the history of the sport, is truly special and a moment that will live and will always be remembered.
“So, yeah, I definitely will frame the picture and put it in the wall of my house so I can see it very well whenever I go in.”
Consistency and love of the sport: Antonelli’s key factors for his 2026 F1 crown
After scoring his debut win in just the second round of the season at the Chinese GP, Antonelli has gone on to amass a further eight victories en route to his championship glory, with the most recent triumph just last week, at the United States GP, and a further podium at the Mexico City GP.
But the Italian believes that rather than his sheer pace and hit-rate in terms of wins, his consistency across the season, and a genuine enjoyment of his job, were the main reasons why he was able to be so successful in the 2026 F1 season:
“I think it’s really hard to pick one,” he answered when asked about his most significant moment of the season. “I think the main thing was the consistency we’ve had during the whole season because even when it was looking a bit rough, we still managed to do a decent result. We managed to do some damage limitation, and that has been the key – always being there.
“And also, I think, enjoying every weekend, enjoying the weekends, facing the weekend and going to the weekend with passion, love for the sport, for what you do and just trying as well to appreciate every moment.
“This weekend has been very difficult emotion-wise as well. It hasn’t been easy, but I still try to appreciate today, coming to the track, having that feeling that today could have been the day and also the feeling on the grid.
“So [it’s] just trying to really enjoy every moment and that has been the thing of the season for me, you know, with the team, just taking it race by race and enjoying the weekend on and off the track,” he explained. “Enjoying the time with the mechanics, with the engineers and with everyone involved, because at the end, still got to realise that, still got to remember that, you know, I’m very lucky to do what I love to do as a profession.”
“Best one has yet to come”: Antonelli ranks his F1 wins so far
From winning the Chinese GP from pole, to crushing the opposition at Monza after starting from the back of the grid, Antonelli believes his best win in F1 is “yet to come” – but mentioned one other race which proved to be a turning point in his 2026 F1 season:
“[It’s] difficult to say. I think the best one has yet to come,” Antonelli said. “But if I had to pick one, I would say home race, a very, very special one. Then, of course, first race, the first one is always very, very special.
“But I think all of them have been very special, have been very unique in their own ways. You know, I think I rate also Spa [Francorchamps, Belgian GP], being a very special one,” he added. “Because Spa was probably last year my toughest moment in my career and coming to this year, and winning in a track where I was probably at my lowest, was very special.
“All of them have been very special and hopefully, well, you know, a more special one is coming on its way.”
2025 critics “added fuel to the fire” of Antonelli’s success
After an incredibly tough 2025 season, Antonelli’s stocks in the F1 driver market were at an all-time low, as there were even doubts as to whether the young Italian was indeed ready to be thrown straight into a works Mercedes car, such were the extent of his struggles.
At one point, even his team principal Toto Wolff went on record to criticize him, calling his 2025 Italian GP performance “underwhelming” at the time.
12 months on, Antonelli masterfully won the Italian GP from the back of the grid – and he believes the constant pressure and being in the spotlight from the very start of his F1 career has made him grow and mature faster as an F1 driver, adding “fuel to the fire” of his 2026 season:
“It’s always good to shut off some of the noise. And of course, I think in, in many ways it does help to add fuel to the fire.
“The fact that some people said that I wasn’t belonging to Formula One or I wasn’t ready for it – which at some point last year, I probably looked like that I wasn’t ready for it,” he admitted. “Last year, I think being able to experience those moments made me much more ready as well ahead of this year.
“Experiencing really low and difficult situations, high pressure moments, really helped me to face certain situations this year. And definitely they made me mature a lot as a driver, as a person.
“And still this year, I’ve had moments where I could have done better, a lot better. So it’s just a constant learning process. But last year being able to race straight into Mercedes, obviously straight under the spotlight, made me grow much, much faster than if I would have gone to a smaller team, for example.”
