Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver, has been crowned the youngest ever Formula 1 World Champion. He secured the title by finishing third in the Mexico City Grand Prix. Antonelli's achievement broke the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first championship with Red Bull in 2010. Antonelli's age at the time of his championship win was 20 years and 68 days.
The Mexico City Grand Prix, held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, was a 71-lap race. Antonelli started in fourth position and had to navigate through a challenging race, including a mid-race red flag due to a heavy accident involving Valtteri Bottas. Additionally, a late Safety Car was deployed following a crash for Arvid Lindblad. Despite these challenges, Antonelli managed to finish third. His third-place finish was enough to secure the championship, as he only needed to finish ninth to claim the title.
Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, won the Mexico City Grand Prix. He started from fifth on the grid and managed to hold off Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who finished second. The victory for Verstappen was his third win of the season. He withstood late pressure from Hamilton to claim an unlikely win. The race was marked by an intense battle between Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Hamilton.
Leclerc finished fourth in the race, managing to hold off Lando Norris's McLaren. George Russell, Antonelli's teammate at Mercedes, finished fifth. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls and Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi completed the top 10. Lawson started from the pit lane but managed to secure a points finish. Several drivers received penalties, including Oscar Piastri, who was handed a 10-second penalty for a collision with Lindblad.
Antonelli's championship win marks a significant milestone in his career. He now holds an unassailable 119-point lead in the championship standings. Max Verstappen moved into second place in the standings following his win in Mexico City. Antonelli's teammate, George Russell, slipped to fourth place, 130 points behind his teammate. The F1 paddock will move on to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from November 6-8.
Antonelli expressed his gratitude after securing the championship. He thanked Mercedes, his family, and everyone who supported him throughout the season. The 20-year-old driver mentioned that he was speechless and still trying to process what had just happened. Antonelli's achievement has garnered significant attention, and he is expected to be a strong contender in future seasons.
The Mexico City Grand Prix also saw several other notable performances. Home hero Sergio Perez finished 16th for Cadillac. Alpine's Pierre Gasly was handed a 30-second penalty for failing to slow under double yellows, which cost him a potential points finish. The next F1 race will be the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where drivers will look to secure their final points of the season.
Key points
- Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest F1 champion at 20 years and 68 days old.
- Max Verstappen wins the Mexico City Grand Prix, his third win of the season.
- Antonelli's championship win secures an unassailable 119-point lead in the standings.
