Kimi Antonelli is already the youngest champion in F1 history after a crazy race in Mexico; Verstappen triumphs in chaos
He is the youngest world champion in F1 history. Andrea Kimi Antonelli became Mexico in the new king of F1 at only 20 years, 2 months and 7 days, and 16 years laterbroke the previous record of Sebastián Vettel, who won the title in 2010 at the age of 23. But what was achieved by the Bologna pilot (August 25, 2006) is even more historic, because It has been 73 years since the last title achieved by an Italian in F1, Alberto Ascariwho won his two crowns in 1952 and 1953, after the one achieved by Giuseppe Farina in 1950.
And above all, it is striking that the Mercedes driver has achieved it in just his second year in F1, having the luck that most drivers do not have in an entire career: finding himself with the dominating car on the grid at the first opportunity, in his second year, in 2026.
But he also had the great talent and mental strength to take advantage of it, destroying what everyone saw as the great favorite at the beginning of the course, his teammate Russelsomeone with much more experience and who in previous years surpassed an entire 7 times champion like Lewis Hamilton with the same car. Kimi passed over him.
Crazy race: victory for Max and Kimi climbs to the podium
He just needed to close the title in Mexico. It was 2 points away. It was enough for him to finish 9th to achieve it. Even if Russell didn’t win, he could finish 10th. And if Hamilton and George did not succeed, he could even quit. And finally, in a race full of chaos, Kimi didn’t get into any trouble and secured the crown with a good third position.
The event was marked by an almost touch between the two Ferraris on the first lap when Leclerc and hamilton were first and second, a subsequent sanction to Charles for having taken advantage by going off the track in that action, the radio complaints from lewis and a red flag with 25 laps remaining due to an accident Bottas which forced the event to be resumed with a second standing start with 25 laps remaining.
The winner would be decided in a final 25-lap sprint. Verstappen was a leader before Leclerc (2nd) and hamilton (3rd), with Kimi in 4th place. Anything could happen at the start due to the great slipstream that the second row drivers could take advantage of in the 840 meters that separated the grid from Turn 1. It could be a candy for Kimi, to try to win the title, achieving victory with an epic attack in that second standing start. But Kimi avoided any problems and let the rest of the roosters battle in those first meters, very intelligently.
Verstappen got off to a great start and closed the door on Hamilton in turn 1, who with a huge start passed Leclerc who was blocking the tires during that first stop. That made Charles begin to sink.
It seemed that Kimi was passing on the topic, but he showed his enormous composure by overtaking Charles on the subsequent lap in braking at 1. He took a gamble. I wanted to celebrate the crown from the podium. And he did it. And meanwhile, there was an outbreak of fire for Max: they investigated him for an alleged bad position on the grid at the start. But finally, it came to nothing. Max was escaping towards victory, but the race was not over yet. An accident between Piastri and Lindblad caused a ‘Safety Car’. Max had to defend his victory in a final restart after the safety car with 7 laps remaining. The four-time champion had no choice and won against Hamilton (2nd) and a new world champion, Kimi Antonelli, third in Mexico.
Sainz was 15th, without options, and Alonso He abandoned after 6 laps due to problems with the Honda engine, like Stroll, on the same lap.
We were wrong about Kimi
Born a few kilometers from the headquarters of Ferrarihe could have signed when he was a child for those of Maranellobut they rejected that idea because it was too small. AND Toto Wolff, who was saddened by not having been able to recruit Verstappen when he was a teenager, saw his own Max in him.
He won everything in the lower categories and the pressure of joining the team could not overcome him. Mercedes program with 12 years. And that, the pressure to which Toto subjected him was similar to that of Verstappen at Red Bull by making him jump directly from the European Regional Formula to the FIA Formula 2without prior natural passage through the FIA F3.
And thenAfter just one year in F2, in full learning, he went directly up to Mercedes in F1without first going through a client team or one with lesser potential as is usually done, as in the cases of Leclerc at Alfa Romeo, Alonso at Minardi or Russell at Williams. They put him directly to the test in one of the best teams and as a substitute for none other than Lewis Hamilton.
Face of a child, mind of iron
Before that jump, he came from a debut in F1 practice sessions in 2024 in front of his people, in monzaat home, which ended with an accident on the first lap due to trying to push too hard. Many, including the one who writes these lines, believed that Wolff ran the risk of burning the kidwhich was too early.
And that feeling increased in 2025, with a tough first yearwith many ups and downs, in which Russell overwhelmingly surpassed him. But we were wrong.
He did not sink, he rebuilt himself, exhibiting mental strength and maturity worthy of a champion. It started from scratch with a sublime adaptation to these 2026 F1s where electrical energy management is key. Kimi, with a baby face, is the opposite when he lowers his visor.
He has exhibited talent, speed and enormous self-confidencefor example, when winning in Monaco against Hamilton if he wrinkled or in Austin destroying Verstappen with his rhythm. He arrived in Mexico with 9 wins and 7 poles and leaves with the title with still 4 races to go. He has made history. Kimi is the new king of F1. A star is born.
