Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest Formula One World Champion at 20

The update

Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion on Sunday, finishing third for Mercedes at the Mexico City Grand Prix at 20 years and 68 days old. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the red-flagged, crash-hit race, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton second. Antonelli’s podium gave him 380 points and an unassailable 119-point lead with four races remaining. He is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and he broke Sebastian Vettel’s previous youngest-champion record, set at 23 years old in 2010.

Why it matters

Antonelli lowered the age record by more than three years and shared the podium with Verstappen, a four-time champion, and Hamilton, a seven-time champion. His title ends Italy’s 73-year wait for a champion. Mercedes also lead the constructors’ standings with 630 points to Ferrari’s 504 and could clinch that title in Brazil next weekend.

What to watch

The remaining races run in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with Verstappen, on 261 points, and Hamilton, on 259, now racing for second place overall. Attention will also turn to whether Mercedes complete a championship double in Brazil.

Sources

• aljazeera.com — confirms Antonelli’s age, third place, the 119-point lead and Vettel’s previous record
• dw.com — confirms the Mexico City result, the points totals and Antonelli as Italy’s first champion since 1953