Antonelli proves doubters wrong as he becomes F1's youngest champion

After Kimi Antonelli completed his debut Formula One season at the end of 2025, he wasn’t exactly seen Mercedes’ safest bet for a first drivers’ title since 2020 – when Lewis Hamilton sealed a record-equalling seventh championship.

The Italian claimed his first three podiums, but failed to score in 10 races and Mercedes faced calls to replace the young driver, having promoted him after just three seasons in junior single-seaters.

“He wins the junior formula, then a difficult year in Formula Two and that’s already where people started to doubt. People were doubters,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said.

“People said he shouldn’t even be in F1, he should be at a smaller team, 10 races and no points,” Wolff added, recalling that two sponsors left the team “because who is this kid?”

But on Sunday at the Mexican Grand Prix, Antonelli proved all the doubters wrong and completed a remarkable turnaround from his debut campaign to claim his maiden world title and become F1’s youngest-ever champion.

The race was won by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, but third place was enough for Antonelli, who needed to finish at least ninth to wrap up the championship – which became a matter of a time following such a dominant year with nine victories in 19 races so far.

“Very early on, we had such a strong car, and we were very consistent and put in the performance. I thought that we could have had a shot this year, and I’m really happy that we managed to clinch it all,” the newly-crowned world champion said.

“It’s starting to get real, and I’m going to enjoy every bit of it. I’m going to go all out with my family, friends, and the team. And we’re just going to enjoy it all the way, because this is a very special moment, one that we’ll remember forever.”

Monza: From practice nightmare to epic win

Before becoming a full-time Mercedes driver, Antonelli made his first practice debut on home soil: at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

It ended after 10 minutes following a thumping crash into the barriers at the Albareto turn.

But the track where many started raising eyebrows, was where Antonelli showed an epic display of talent this year and made it clear he wasn’t just a kid with a dream, but a driver with the necessary tools to win a world championship.

He delivered an epic recovery from 19th to first to win this season’s race in Monza – becoming the first Italian to win at the Temple of Speed since 1966.

His maiden F1 title also marked the first time an Italian was crowned world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

“Step by step he makes himself stronger and stronger and stronger, and this is the result,” Antonelli’s father, Marco, said after Sunday’s race.

“It’s been step by step during his career that, on some occasion, I realized that he was good. But (you) never can say that he might achieve this result, because it’s not possible to say. Never you can (be sure) to be world champion one day.”

Antonelli’s personality key for success

It wasn’t just Antonelli’s talent behind the wheels that was key to his maiden title, but also the way he carries himself through life.

Wolff pointed out that Antonelli’s personality had won over many in the team.

“We’re dealing with very stiff, unemotional English people. So then comes this Italian boy that starts to hug everyone in the garage and you can see how it changed the environment and now all the Brits are hugging each other, which is weird to see.”

“He’s a kid. He’s 20 years old. You see him driving, the maturity, the interaction with the partners but then for his birthday he goes to the waterpark, and that is so great to see. I was like, ‘where’s Kimi I need to speak with him?’ Kimi’s at the waterpark with his friends. We love that.”

With four races to go, the next one in Brazil this weekend, Antonelli will hope to claim at least one more victory and rewrite his history: instead of 10 races in a year without a point, how about 10 wins in one season?

“It’s been a massive privilege to be able to, first of all, race for this team. Hopefully we’ll have much more success in the upcoming years,” the world champion said.