Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 world champion after Mexico City Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest Formula 1 world champion in the sport's history. The Mercedes driver secured the title by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, with four rounds of the season still to run. He is also the first Italian to win the championship since 1953.

The race was marked by a thrilling finish and several crashes. Antonelli's third-place finish was enough to make his lead unassailable. The title came after a dominant run that began at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where he started from pole and beat Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. He stuck to Mercedes' plan and executed a clean one-stop race, which was his ninth win of the season.

A title built on consistency

Antonelli's win in Austin was widely seen as the step that put the championship within reach. Before Mexico, he already had one hand on the trophy. Reports from the weekend described the title race as effectively settled for some time. Antonelli's win in Mexico confirmed what many had expected.

The result also places him in the record books. At this age he is the youngest driver to hold the world championship, beating every previous champion to the title.

What it means for the sport

For Italy, the title ends a long wait. The country has not produced a Formula 1 champion since 1953, and Antonelli's success is the first since then.

For fans following the sport, the title marks a changing of the guard. Antonelli has moved from a young contender to a world champion within one season.

Formula 1's season continues with four more rounds, and the sport has not yet said how the remaining races will be run.