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Kimi Antonelli creates history, becomes youngest F1 world champion

Kimi Antonelli creates history, becomes youngest F1 world champion | Racing News

Kimi Antonelli (Reuters Photo)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest Formula One world champion at the age of 20. Antonelli secured the title after finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, which was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The Italian driver broke down in tears of joy over the team radio as he crossed the finish line. His lead in the championship standings has now reached an unbeatable 119 points.

The race at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was stopped by a red flag before being restarted.

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Antonelli becomes first Italian champion since 1953

Antonelli also became the first Italian driver to win the Formula One world championship since 1953.

Despite missing out on the race victory, his third-place finish was enough to seal the title and put his name in the history books.

Dramatic race in Mexico City

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton started the race from pole position and finished second, just behind Verstappen.

The race was full of drama, with two safety cars and several crashes. The action was also interrupted by a 33-minute stoppage after a red flag with 25 of the 71 laps still remaining.

List of Formula One world champions after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won his first title in Mexico City on Sunday:

Formula One world champions (1950-2026)

YearWorld championCountryTeam
2026Kimi AntonelliItalyMercedes
2025Lando NorrisBritainMcLaren
2024Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull
2023Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull
2022Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull
2021Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull
2020Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2019Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2018Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2017Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2016Nico RosbergGermanyMercedes
2015Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2014Lewis HamiltonBritainMercedes
2013Sebastian VettelGermanyRed Bull
2012Sebastian VettelGermanyRed Bull
2011Sebastian VettelGermanyRed Bull
2010Sebastian VettelGermanyRed Bull
2009Jenson ButtonBritainBrawn
2008Lewis HamiltonBritainMcLaren
2007Kimi RaikkonenFinlandFerrari
2006Fernando AlonsoSpainRenault
2005Fernando AlonsoSpainRenault
2004Michael SchumacherGermanyFerrari
2003Michael SchumacherGermanyFerrari
2002Michael SchumacherGermanyFerrari
2001Michael SchumacherGermanyFerrari
2000Michael SchumacherGermanyFerrari
1999Mika HakkinenFinlandMcLaren
1998Mika HakkinenFinlandMcLaren
1997Jacques VilleneuveCanadaWilliams
1996Damon HillBritainWilliams
1995Michael SchumacherGermanyBenetton
1994Michael SchumacherGermanyBenetton
1993Alain ProstFranceWilliams
1992Nigel MansellBritainWilliams
1991Ayrton SennaBrazilMcLaren
1990Ayrton SennaBrazilMcLaren
1989Alain ProstFranceMcLaren
1988Ayrton SennaBrazilMcLaren
1987Nelson PiquetBrazilWilliams
1986Alain ProstFranceMcLaren
1985Alain ProstFranceMcLaren
1984Niki LaudaAustriaMcLaren
1983Nelson PiquetBrazilBrabham
1982Keke RosbergFinlandWilliams
1981Nelson PiquetBrazilBrabham
1980Alan JonesAustraliaWilliams
1979Jody ScheckterSouth AfricaFerrari
1978Mario AndrettiUSALotus
1977Niki LaudaAustriaFerrari
1976James HuntBritainMcLaren
1975Niki LaudaAustriaFerrari
1974Emerson FittipaldiBrazilMcLaren
1973Jackie StewartBritainTyrrell
1972Emerson FittipaldiBrazilLotus
1971Jackie StewartBritainTyrrell
1970Jochen RindtAustriaLotus
1969Jackie StewartBritainMatra
1968Graham HillBritainLotus
1967Denny HulmeNew ZealandBrabham
1966Jack BrabhamAustraliaBrabham
1965Jim ClarkBritainLotus
1964John SurteesBritainFerrari
1963Jim ClarkBritainLotus
1962Graham HillBritainBRM
1961Phil HillUSAFerrari
1960Jack BrabhamAustraliaCooper
1959Jack BrabhamAustraliaCooper
1958Mike HawthornBritainFerrari
1957Juan Manuel FangioArgentinaMaserati
1956Juan Manuel FangioArgentinaLancia/Ferrari
1955Juan Manuel FangioArgentinaMercedes
1954Juan Manuel FangioArgentinaMercedes/Maserati
1953Alberto AscariItalyFerrari
1952Alberto AscariItalyFerrari
1951Juan Manuel FangioArgentinaAlfa Romeo
1950Giuseppe FarinaItalyAlfa Romeo

Multiple-time world champions

TitlesDrivers
7Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton
5Juan Manuel Fangio
4Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen
3Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna
2Fernando Alonso, Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Hakkinen, Graham Hill

World champions by country

No. of titlesCountry
11Britain
3Brazil, Finland, Germany, Italy
2Australia, Austria, United States
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