Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest-Ever Formula 1 World Champion at 20.

Italian racing sensation Kimi Antonelli has been crowned the 2026 Formula One World Champion, making history as the youngest driver ever to win the prestigious title at just 20 years and 68 days old.

The Mercedes driver secured his maiden Drivers’ Championship on Sunday after finishing third at the dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the first driver in Formula One history to claim the championship at such a young age.

Antonelli entered the 71-lap race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez knowing that a ninth-place finish would be enough to guarantee the title, regardless of how his closest rivals performed.

However, the Italian went beyond expectations, converting his fourth-place starting position into a podium finish despite a race filled with interruptions, crashes and intense battles.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory, holding off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, while Antonelli crossed the line in third to seal the championship.

His historic achievement also ended Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record as Formula One’s youngest world champion. Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first title with Red Bull in 2010.

Antonelli’s triumph makes him the first Italian to win the Formula One Drivers’ Championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait for the country.

The young Mercedes star also secured the championship with four races remaining in the 2026 season, underlining his impressive campaign.

Overcome with emotion after crossing the finish line, Antonelli celebrated the achievement over team radio, expressing gratitude to Mercedes and his family for supporting his journey.

The historic victory marks a remarkable milestone in the career of a driver widely regarded as one of Formula One’s brightest young talents.