APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Antonelli makes everyone look silly on the way to historic title
Paddock rivals offer glowing praise after Kimi Antonelli seals the 2026 Formula 1 world championship in Mexico.
By Lesley Bakker - 2026-11-02T14:45:17.000Z - 3 min read
Formula 1 welcomed a new benchmark in Mexico City as Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 world drivers' championship with four rounds remaining. By finishing third at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the young Italian reached motorsport immortality at just 20 years and 68 days of age. The milestone makes him the youngest champion in the history of the sport as well as the first Italian driver to claim the crown.
Outoing title holder Lando Norris did not hesitate to acknowledge the sheer magnitude of his successor's campaign. Norris pointed out that the Mercedes driver has thoroughly outperformed the rest of the field throughout the season. According to Norris, the new champion has clicked with his machinery in a way that left the rest of the grid behind, successfully extracting more from the car than anyone else on the grid.
The praise extended deep down the pit lane as peers reflected on the consistency required to beat seasoned veterans. Drivers noted that Antonelli barely put a foot wrong during a campaign where he had to shoulder the intense pressure of leading the standings from the opening rounds through to the final stretch. His ability to manage the championship lead without cracking under the gaze of multiple world champions drew widespread admiration across the paddock.
Competitors also highlighted the rare mental resilience displayed during high-stakes weekends. While acknowledging that he benefited from having a championship-caliber car in only his second season in the top tier, fellow drivers emphasized that possessing the equipment is only half the battle. Maximizing that opportunity across different track layouts and handling the heavy weight of expectations separated the Italian teenager from his rivals.
Among those watching the celebrations unfold on the media pen screens was Franco Colapinto, who remarked on the symbolic podium featuring the newly crowned champion flanked by two of the most successful drivers in modern history. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both embraced the young Mercedes driver in parc ferme immediately after the chequered flag, offering personal tributes to a phenomenal season that included nine grand prix victories.
Gabriel Bortoleto reflected on the unique pressure of fighting established icons of the sport while maintaining a steady level of performance. Carlos Sainz echoed those sentiments, noting that after dominating the opening phase of the year, Antonelli executed a textbook defensive second half of the season to control the points advantage. Alex Albon pointed to race pace as the decisive factor that ultimately elevated the championship campaign above the rest.
With his name now etched into the record books alongside the sport's greatest legends, the newly crowned champion stands at the center of a transformed grid. The manner of his triumph has reset expectations for young talent entering Formula 1, turning what started as a promising sophomore season into a historic milestone for Italian motorsport.