Kimi Antonelli clinches maiden F1 world title in Mexico with four races to spare

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has won his first Formula 1 world championship with four races remaining, finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. At 20, he becomes F1's youngest-ever world champion and the first Italian driver to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport used its front page to criticise Ferrari, saying Antonelli's title came thanks to his talent, the car and the fact that he is not racing for Ferrari. A first-lap collision between Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc ended Ferrari's hopes of a one-two in Sunday's race.

Antonelli, who joined Mercedes at 11 and made his F1 debut in 2025 replacing Hamilton, said he was grateful to Mercedes and his family and described the moment as one that would live forever.