By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux 

As anticipated, Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 World Drivers’ Championship in Mexico, becoming the youngest champion in Formula One history.

The 20-year-old Italian secured the title with a third-place finish in an eventful Mexico City Grand Prix, won by Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton finishing second.

Antonelli, who only needed ninth place to guarantee the championship, delivered a superb podium performance to cap a remarkable second season with Mercedes.

Antonelli’s achievement rewrites the record books, surpassing Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years old when he won his first title with Red Bull in 2010. It also ends a 73-year wait for an Italian F1 world champion, the previous driver to achieve the distinction being Alberto Ascari in 1953.

For Mercedes, the championship represents a significant return on its investment in Antonelli and reward for Toto Wolff’s foresight and commitment to the young talent.

The Mexico GP podium provided another remarkable historical footnote as it set a new record for the most combined titles (12) among the three drivers. Verstappen has four, Hamilton seven and Antonelli one.

Sharing the podium with two established champions offered the newly crowned title-holder a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment, while underlining the extraordinary blend of experience and emerging talent at the front of modern F1.