Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. At just 20 years and 68 days old, the Italian broke Sebastian Vettel's record by over three years. The race was marked by intense drama at Ferrari, where Charles Leclerc's aggressive first-lap move on Hamilton sparked team tension. Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, maintained a composed performance throughout, capitalizing on pit strategy and safety car periods to secure the title with races to spare. His emotional radio messages revealed the magnitude of the achievement as he became the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Verstappen won the race, benefiting from Ferrari's internal conflict, while Hamilton finished second, frustrated by Leclerc's actions.
The race featured multiple interruptions, including a red flag after Valtteri Bottas' Cadillac crashed due to suspension failure, and a late safety car when Arvid Lindblad collided with Oscar Piastri. Antonelli's steady drive, combined with strategic pit stops and timely safety car periods, allowed him to clinch the championship despite not winning. The final laps saw a tight battle between Verstappen, Hamilton, and Antonelli, finishing nose-to-tail. Ferrari's controversy over Leclerc's corner-cutting and failure to restore positions may lead to an internal review, overshadowing Antonelli's historic triumph.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing