Kimi Antonelli celebrated becoming Formula 1's youngest world champion in Mexico City on Sunday, completing a rise supported by his family and the Mercedes team that identified his talent at age 11. The 20-year-old also became Italy's first F1 champion since 1953, securing the title at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were fighting for the race victory ahead of Antonelli as he approached the finish. Afterward, the two drivers, who have 11 world championships between them, congratulated him and lifted him onto their shoulders during the podium celebrations. Antonelli said he intended to frame a photograph of the moment, describing their recognition as something he would always remember.
With an Italian flag around his shoulders, Antonelli listened as Luciano Pavarotti's rendition of Nessun Dorma accompanied the ceremony. His Mercedes car rose onto the platform, where he kissed its front before sitting on it. Asked afterward about the music, he became tearful while explaining that his grandfather had regularly listened to the song and would have been proud of him.
The emotion had begun before Antonelli reached the finish. He said tears had affected his vision on the previous lap and estimated that he had lost about two seconds. Memories of his journey from karting to Formula 1 passed through his mind before crossing the line brought the release of achieving one of his biggest ambitions.
His father Marco, mother and sister were present after travelling from Italy on Saturday. Marco had been occupied with his rally racing team at Mugello before the trip. Antonelli credited his family with continuing to make substantial sacrifices, saying his father had attended almost every race that season despite his work commitments. He described Marco as someone who kept him grounded after successes and supported him through difficult sessions and races.
Mercedes' commitment also helped shape his route to the championship. After Hamilton told Toto Wolff in January 2024 that he would leave for Ferrari in 2025, the Mercedes boss chose Antonelli as his replacement. The decision placed an inexperienced teenager in a highly sought-after seat. His first F1 practice appearance at Monza later in 2024 ended in a crash, and Wolff subsequently acknowledged that the outing had been a mistake.
Antonelli faced further difficulties during his rookie season, but said those experiences prepared him for the pressures of his championship campaign. Criticism that he did not belong in Formula 1 or was not ready provided motivation. He also acknowledged that he had made mistakes this season and still had more to learn.
Mercedes maintained its support through those early struggles. Reflecting on the title on Sunday night, Antonelli thanked the team for backing him from childhood and singled out race engineer Peter Bonnington alongside the wider trackside staff. He credited the united group with helping deliver the championship and expressed hope that they would achieve further success together.
