At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli stood on the podium beside Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen moments after making Formula 1 history. Both champions had the same word for his achievement: “Incredible.” Antonelli had just become the youngest world champion in the sport’s history, winning the title at the end of only his second season in Formula 1.
The result marked a striking change from the doubts that followed him into the year. Mercedes had promoted Antonelli the previous season to replace Hamilton, one of the sport’s greatest drivers. The teenager showed flashes of promise, but his debut year was shaky, and team-mate George Russell beat him comfortably. When Mercedes began this season with what appeared to be the strongest car, many expected Russell to lead the title fight.
Instead, Antonelli made a major leap over the winter. He finished the opening race close behind Russell, then won the second. That first victory began a run of five wins in a row, which put him in control of the championship. He held on even after rival teams erased Mercedes’ early advantage. His steady results meant the title fight lost much of its suspense, but they also showed how consistently he performed against the best drivers in the sport.
Verstappen praised Antonelli for staying composed and avoiding major mistakes despite his age. He also singled out Antonelli’s ability to beat an experienced team-mate. Lando Norris, the outgoing world champion, said Antonelli had driven better than people expected and had “blown everyone away.” Norris added that the young driver had worked hard to understand his car and used it better than anyone else.
The season’s success did not erase Antonelli’s difficult first year. He said that people had questioned whether he belonged in Formula 1 or was ready for the step up. At the time, he admitted, he may have looked unprepared. But the pressure and low points helped him mature as both a driver and a person, he said, and prepared him to face hard moments this season. He also described his progress as an ongoing learning process, rather than a finished job.
That journey helps explain why the title carries meaning beyond a record. Antonelli went from an uncertain debut to beating his experienced team-mate and becoming the sport’s youngest champion in a single season. Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, said he expected Antonelli to keep improving, while noting that tough periods would still come. Antonelli, meanwhile, plans to frame a photograph of himself on the Mexico City podium with Hamilton and Verstappen. For the young champion, it is a reminder of a moment he says he will always remember—and a sign of how quickly he has earned the respect of the sport’s biggest names.