Daijiworld Media Network - Mexico City
Mexico City, Nov 2: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli created Formula One history by becoming the youngest world champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Italian became the first driver from his country to win the world championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He broke the previous record held by Germany's Sebastian Vettel, who won his first of four world titles with Red Bull at the age of 23 years and 134 days in 2010.
Antonelli became emotional over the team radio as he crossed the finish line at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. His race engineer Peter Bonnington congratulated him, saying, “Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world.”
“We did it. Thank you so much,” an emotional Antonelli replied. His parents and sister were waiting to embrace him when he stepped out of the car, while members of the Mercedes team celebrated the historic achievement.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the dramatic, interrupted race for his second victory of the season, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished second. Antonelli's third-place finish gave him an unassailable 119-point advantage in the championship.
Speaking after the race, Antonelli said he was struggling to process the achievement. He described the season as incredible and said sharing the podium with Verstappen and Hamilton made the occasion even more special.
The young Italian admitted that he had felt additional pressure during the weekend but was relieved to have secured the championship. Recalling the final lap, he said he had slowed down because he was becoming emotional and could barely see the track.
Hamilton started from pole position and initially led the race, with teammate Charles Leclerc following closely behind. However, the two Ferrari drivers battled for position through the opening corners, with Leclerc cutting a turn and going across the grass. Verstappen subsequently moved ahead of Hamilton as Leclerc ran wide.
Hamilton expressed his frustration over the team radio, saying he had been pushed out by his own teammate. The stewards handed Leclerc a five-second penalty, but Hamilton remained behind him following their respective pit stops.
The race was marked by multiple incidents, two safety car periods and a lengthy interruption. The first major stoppage came on lap 46 of the 71-lap race after Valtteri Bottas suffered a high-speed front-left suspension failure in his Cadillac and crashed into the barriers at Turn One. Bottas received medical attention before walking to an ambulance and giving a thumbs-up. He was later released from the medical centre.
Verstappen led after the restart, with Hamilton challenging him, while Antonelli moved ahead of Leclerc. Another safety car was deployed after a collision between Lindblad and Piastri, before racing resumed with nine laps remaining.
Leclerc eventually finished fourth, followed by McLaren's outgoing champion Lando Norris in fifth. Antonelli's Mercedes teammate George Russell finished sixth after a difficult race. Russell had started on the front row but dropped to fifth following a poor start and later received a 10-second penalty after colliding with Hadjar.
The result also reshaped the championship standings, with Verstappen moving into second place, Hamilton third and Russell dropping to fourth, 130 points behind Antonelli.
Mercedes continued to lead the constructors' championship with 630 points, ahead of Ferrari on 504. The team could secure the constructors' title at the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend.