Kimi Antonelli, 20, becomes Formula 1's youngest world champion and Italy's first in 73 years
RacingNews365 has the chaotic Mexico City race that sealed it; the BBC's profile tells how a boy his father says was 'born in a garage' got here.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 1, finishing third behind race winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). He needed only ninth place.
Latin Times reports he is champion at 20 years and 68 days old, taking the record from Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 133 days old when he won in 2010. He is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and he won eight races this season.
According to RacingNews365, the race had a first-lap clash between the two Ferraris that earned Charles Leclerc a five-second penalty, a 10-second penalty for George Russell for spinning Isack Hadjar, and a 40-minute red flag after Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily when his Cadillac's front-left suspension failed. The BBC's profile traces Antonelli from karting to the title, including the day his father let a 10-year-old Kimi steer a Lamborghini around the Adria circuit.
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Alberto Ascari
After exploring Kimi Antonelli, 20, Shatters Vettel's 16-Year Record to Become F1's Youngest Champion, the last Italian to do it was Alberto Ascari.
Ascari, an Italian driver, raced in the world championship from 1950 to 1955 and won the 1952 and 1953 titles with Ferrari, along with 13 Grands Prix.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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