Kimi Antonelli has just made Formula 1 history, becoming the youngest World Champion in the sport's history at 20 years and 68 days old. He needed only a ninth-place finish to clinch the title, delivering a composed drive through a chaotic afternoon at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, securing the championship with races to spare.
He shattered Sebastian Vettel's long-standing record of 23 years and 134 days, set in 2010. Visibly emotional, he said: "It's a long day I will remember forever.
We did it, and without Mercedes and my family, I wouldn't be here. I'm speechless."
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Italy, to Marco Antonelli, a sportscar racer and owner of the AKM Motorsport team, and Veronica Pomaro. His middle name is inspired by Finnish racer Kimi Räikkönen, though he clarified he was not named directly after the 2007 World Champion.
Scouted by Minardi Management at age eight, Antonelli joined the Mercedes Junior Team in 2018 at age 12. He won consecutive European karting championships in 2020 and 2021, becoming the youngest-ever senior European Champion at 14.
Antonelli dominated the Italian and ADAC F4 series in 2022, winning a record 13 races in the Italian series and securing gold at the FIA Motorsport Games while competing with a broken wrist. In 2023, Antonelli won the Formula Regional European and Middle East titles.
In 2024, he finished sixth in F2. In 2025, Antonelli replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, becoming the third-youngest driver in F1 history at 18.
He scored a podium finish in Canada and set several youngest-driver records, finishing 7th in the standings with 150 points. His meteoric rise through the motorsport ranks has captured the imagination of fans globally.
Experts believe his fearless approach and immense natural talent make him a formidable competitor for years to come, potentially rewriting the record books of modern motorsport. As celebrations continue at the team headquarters, Antonelli remains focused on future seasons.
With his maiden title secured, the young Italian prodigy is ready to face new challenges and defend his crown against seasoned veterans in the upcoming championship battles.