Kimi Antonelli, 20, became the youngest world champion in Formula One history at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, according to DW. He finished third for Mercedes behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, and secured the title with four races remaining.
Antonelli won the title at 20 years and 68 days old, breaking the record held by Sebastian Vettel, who first won at age 23 in 2010, DW reported. Euronews reported that Antonelli is the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
DW reported the standings after the race: Antonelli 380 points, Verstappen 261 and Hamilton 259. Verstappen won the race, his sixth Mexico City Grand Prix victory.
Antonelli started fourth and needed to finish ninth or better to secure the title regardless of other results, DW said. Al Jazeera reported that he was recruited at age 11 into the Mercedes junior driver programme, where Hamilton was his mentor. Euronews reported that he fell ill before the weekend and missed Thursday’s media day, but still secured the title.
After the race, Antonelli said: "I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened." DW reported that his parents and younger sister were there to embrace him after he stepped out of the car.
The key facts rely on three sources, and no official Formula One or Mercedes statement is included beyond the quoted drivers and team figures. The 20-year-old age figure and a red flag around lap 45 after Valtteri Bottas crashed come from DW alone. Euronews alone reports the illness, with no team or medical comment, and reports that Hamilton lost position to Charles Leclerc on lap four and called for talks without saying what they concern.
Formula One heads to Brazil and then Las Vegas. The final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are scheduled, but it remains unclear whether they will go ahead amid regional instability.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.