Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, clinching his maiden title at the Mexico City Grand Prix in only his second season. His dominant performance throughout the year has drawn significant admiration from veteran drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
"Incredible," was the shared assessment from Hamilton and Verstappen, two of the sport's most decorated champions, who stood with Antonelli on the podium. Antonelli himself expressed the significance of the moment, stating he would "definitely frame the picture and put it in my house" and found the respect from two legends "truly special."
Despite a shaky debut season last year where he was drafted into Mercedes to replace Hamilton, Antonelli has made a remarkable leap forward. After a strong start to the current season, he secured his first victory in the second race and followed it with five consecutive wins, establishing a commanding lead in the championship.
Even as Mercedes' initial car advantage diminished, Antonelli remained a consistent contender. Verstappen noted Antonelli's maturity and consistency, saying, "At his age, to be so solid, not make big mistakes, and of course also beat your experienced team-mate, he's just driven incredible." Lando Norris, the outgoing world champion, echoed these sentiments, calling Antonelli a "genuine guy" who has "blown everyone away."
Antonelli credited his challenging rookie season for preparing him for this success. "The fact that some people said that I wasn't belonging to F1, or I wasn't ready for it... being able to experience those moments made me much more ready ahead of this year," he said. He highlighted how difficult situations and high-pressure moments matured him as a driver.
He admitted to feeling tense during qualifying in Mexico City due to the pressure of clinching the title but managed to drive through it. On the final lap, Antonelli became emotional, struggling to see through tears as he followed Hamilton and Verstappen. The presence of his father, Marco, throughout the season was crucial, providing grounding and support during both high and low moments.
Antonelli also became emotional reflecting on his late grandfather during the champions' press conference, emphasizing the deep personal significance of his historic achievement.