Kimi Antonelli became youngest Formula One world champion at 20
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 1, 2026
Antonelli title
Antonelli clinched his first Formula One world title by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Italian had gone into the race needing only a ninth-place finish to secure the championship.
Antonelli’s path to the crown started with a qualifying session where he said he felt tense and lacked confidence. He still qualified fifth, then was set to start fourth because Max Verstappen had a grid penalty. Italy’s first Formula One world champion since 1953, Antonelli completed a rare breakthrough for a country with a long racing history.
Mexico City race
The race was interrupted by a red flag that led to a 25-lap sprint to the finish. Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton finished second. Antonelli’s third-place finish was enough to secure the championship.
Verstappen Hamilton fallout
Verstappen’s victory also extended a sharp run of form, giving him three wins in four races. Hamilton was frustrated after contact with Verstappen at the restart.
Hamilton also felt a win slipped away because of Charles Leclerc’s first-lap aggression. The championship milestone nevertheless belonged to Antonelli, who became the youngest world champion in Formula One history.
