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Austria Now News – Mexico City
Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has been crowned Formula 1 world champion, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the championship, after finishing the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday evening in third place, four races before the end of the season.
The race was won by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who had started from pole position, while Antonelli needed only two points, or ninth place, to clinch the title.
Younger than Vettel
At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli took the record from Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first title. He also became the 36th champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953, 73 years ago.
After the race, Antonelli said he was speechless and was trying to take in what had happened, adding that the season had been exceptional and that standing on the podium alongside Verstappen and Hamilton was wonderful.
40-minute stoppage after Bottas crash
The race was halted for around 40 minutes after Finland’s Valtteri Bottas crashed his Cadillac into the barrier following a failure of the front-left suspension. He escaped unhurt, and the race resumed at 22:45 CET after the barrier had been repaired.
Verstappen claimed his third win in the last four races and moved two points ahead of Hamilton into second place in the overall standings, 119 points behind the new champion.
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Sources
- sport.ORF.at, Formel 1: Antonelli kürt sich zum jüngsten Weltmeister, 01.11.2026, sport.orf.at
