Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 champion in history at the age of 20. He clinched the title with a ninth-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, regardless of the results of his closest rivals, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli, who started from fourth on the grid, needed only a ninth-place finish to break the previous record set by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won his first championship in 2010. Antonelli secured his ninth Grand Prix victory of the season last week at the United States Grand Prix, starting from pole position.
With his victory, Antonelli also becomes the first Italian driver to win the Formula 1 championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The win also marks the first constructors' title for Mercedes since 2021.
Russell had begun the season as Mercedes' leading driver and won the opening race in Australia, but Antonelli has since dominated the season with nine wins.