Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Champion at the age of 20.
The Mercedes driver secured the 2026 Drivers' Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November, finishing third in the race.
With this victory, Antonelli broke Sebastian Vettel's 16-year-old record and became the first Italian Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
But who is the young Italian behind the championship title, and how did he make his way to Formula 1?
Who Is Kimi Antonelli? From Karting To Formula 1
Born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Italy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli grew up around motorsport. His father, Marco Antonelli, is a sportscar racer. Kimi began karting at a young age, attracting attention with his performances.
Mercedes inducted him into its junior driver programme in April 2019, when he was just 12. He won the FIA Karting European Championship in 2020 and retained the title in 2021.
In 2022, he moved to single-seater racing and won both the Italian Formula 4 and ADAC Formula 4 championships, recording 22 victories across the two series.
He continued his winning run in 2023, claiming the Formula Regional European Championship and Formula Regional Middle East Championship.
In 2024, Antonelli moved to Formula 2 with PREMA Racing. He finished sixth overall, winning feature and sprint races at Silverstone and Budapest.
Mercedes then promoted him directly to Formula 1 for 2025, bypassing Formula 3. At 18, he replaced Lewis Hamilton and partnered George Russell. He finished seventh in the Drivers' Championship in his debut season.
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How Kimi Antonelli Won The 2026 F1 Championship
In his second Formula 1 season with Mercedes, Antonelli won nine Grand Prix races and secured 16 podium finishes across the first 19 rounds.
He sealed the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November, finishing third after starting fourth, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. With 380 points and a 119-point lead over Verstappen, he secured the championship.
At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli became the youngest-ever F1 World Champion, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record of 23 years and 134 days, set in 2010. He also became Italy's first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
After the race, Antonelli celebrated with his family and Mercedes team, telling them over the radio, "We did it!" He later described the victory as a moment that would "live forever".
Antonelli also paid tribute to his childhood idol, Ayrton Senna. He races with number 12, which he intends to retain instead of switching to number one. He also planned a special Senna tribute helmet for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Kimi Beyond The Track
Antonelli's funny moments have made him a fan favourite. Fans often compare his looks to Luca Paguro from Pixar's Luca, inspiring viral memes around his appearance, expressions and reactions.
One viral incident involved Kim Kardashian picking up a towel meant for him at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes joined the joke with a video of Antonelli asking, "Have you seen my towel?" Kardashian later sent him a replacement with a personalised message.
He is also known for pranking Mercedes race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington with cakes, water guns and access-card jokes.
Beyond the humour, Antonelli shares a close bond with team principal Toto Wolff, who has backed him since his junior racing days. His relationship with teammate George Russell combines friendship, playful moments and on-track competition. He also shares friendly interactions with rival drivers such as Max Verstappen.
Away from racing, Antonelli enjoys washing his own car, reflecting his interest in cars beyond the circuit.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Who is Kimi Antonelli?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is an Italian Formula 1 driver who races for Mercedes. He was born on 25 August 2006 in Bologna, Italy.
How old is Kimi Antonelli?
He is 20 years old and became the youngest Formula 1 World Champion at 20 years and 68 days.
When did Kimi Antonelli become F1 World Champion?
He secured the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship on 1 November 2026 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
How did Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship?
He finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, earning enough points to establish an unassailable lead in the championship.
Which team does Kimi Antonelli race for?
He races for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
How many races did Kimi Antonelli win in 2026?
He won nine Grand Prix races in the first 19 rounds of the 2026 season.
Who held the previous record for the youngest F1 world champion?
Sebastian Vettel held the previous record. He won his first championship at 23 years and 134 days in 2010.
What is Kimi Antonelli's racing number?
He races with number 12, which he has associated with his childhood idol, Ayrton Senna.
