In short:
Italian Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest-ever world champion.
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Antonelli → become → ?
The 20-year-old sealed the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix by finishing third.
What's next?
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What → seal → Prix
Kimi Antonelli has been crowned Formula 1 world champion, capping off a historic season for the Italian in just his second year in F1.
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Antonelli → crown → F1
The Mercedes driver secured the title in Mexico on Monday, becoming the category's youngest-ever world champion.
But Antonelli has done more than break the record as the youngest-ever world champion, setting numerous new benchmarks that are likely to stand for some time.
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that → secure → time
Here are the records Antonelli has broken in 2026 on his way to the world championship.
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Antonelli → break → championship
The crowning achievement of Antonelli's 2026 is the world title.
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achievement → crown → 2026
He has become the youngest ever world champion in F1, a record he has smashed.
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he → become → F1
At 20 years, 68 days, Antonelli has beaten the previous mark set by Sebastian Vettel, 23 years, 133 days, by three years.
- Kimi Antonelli (2026) — 20 years, 68 days
-
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Antonelli → beat → years
Sebastian Vettel (2010) — 23 years, 133 days
- Lewis Hamilton (2008) — 23 years, 300 days
- Fernando Alonso (2005) — 24 years, 7 days
- Max Verstappen (2021) — 24 years, 73 days
First driver born in the 21st century to become world champion
It is the sign of a new age.
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It → bear → age
Kimi Antonelli is the first F1 driver born in the 21st century to become world champion.
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Antonelli → bear → century
He was born on August 25, 2006.
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He → bear → August
Last year's champion, Lando Norris, was born in 1999.
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champion → bear → 1999
Youngest driver to lead the F1 championship
Antonelli first took the lead of this year's championship after the third round in Japan.
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Antonelli → lead → Japan
When the then-teenager took the chequered flag at Suzuka for his second win of the season, he surpassed Lewis Hamilton as the youngest driver to ever lead the drivers' championship.
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he → take → championship
Hamilton had held the record since his rookie season in 2007, when the then-McLaren driver took the lead of that year's championship following the Spanish Grand Prix.
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driver → hold → Prix
Lewis Hamilton (Spain, 2007) — 22 years, 4 months, 6 days
- Bruce McLaren (Argentina, 1960) — 22 years, 5 months, 8 days
- Sebastian Vettel (Abu Dhabi, 2010) —23 years, 4 months, 11 days
- Kimi Raikkonen (Malaysia, 2003) — 23 years, 5 months, 6 days
Youngest F1 pole sitter
Antonelli's record-breaking in 2026 began in round two, when he roared to pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix.
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he → begin → Prix
The Italian produced a tremendous lap to pip teammate George Russell, who to that stage had won the Australian Grand Prix, the China sprint race, and qualified on pole for both.
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who → produce → both
Antonelli was 19 years, 6 months, 18 days old when he took pole in Shanghai, beating the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who claimed a shock maiden pole for Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008, aged 21 years, 2 months, 11 days.
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who → take → 2008
Max Verstappen claimed his maiden victory in Spain, 2016, as an 18-year-old — still the youngest driver to ever win a grand prix.
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Verstappen → claim → prix
Kimi Antonelli secured six wins this season before his 20th birthday, setting a new mark for most races won as a teenager.
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Antonelli → secure → teenager
- Kimi Antonelli — 6
- Max Verstappen — 1
Most wins by an Italian driver in a single season
Few nations have contributed more to Formula 1 than Italy.
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nations → contribute → Italy
Kimi Antonelli has become the third Italian to win the drivers' championship, and the first since 1953.
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Antonelli → become → 1953
Antonelli's nine wins so far this season are the most ever by an Italian in a season, beating the previous mark of six set by Alberto Ascari during his 1952 championship season.
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wins → beat → season
The 1952 season only had eight races, and Ascari won the final six.
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Ascari → have → six