From karting prodigy to Formula One sensation: Antonelli’s remarkable rise to the top.
Twenty-year-old Kimi Antonelli rewrote the Formula One record books on Sunday, becoming the youngest world champion in the sport’s history after clinching the title in Mexico with four races still remaining.
The young Italian finished third, crossing the line behind two great champions, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The result put the championship beyond the reach of Mercedes teammate George Russell and seven-time world champion Hamilton, the only remaining drivers with a mathematical chance of catching him.
The emotional youngster was in tears as he crossed the finish line, capping a remarkable season that has won over the paddock with both his performances and personality. His triumph also made him the first Italian to claim the drivers’ title since Alberto Ascari, 73 years ago.
At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli comfortably surpassed the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 133 days old when he secured his first championship in 2010.
Consistency
Thrown into Formula One in 2025 at just 18, Antonelli has taken his performances to another level in his second season. Mercedes has enjoyed a dominant campaign, but the Italian has firmly established himself ahead of British teammate Russell.
After finishing second to Russell at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Antonelli bounced back by winning the next five races.
By the time the championship reached Mexico, he had collected nine victories from 18 races, alongside six additional podium finishes, underlining his remarkable consistency.
His talent and boldness were particularly evident at Monza. Starting 19th on the grid, Antonelli fought his way through the field, overtaking even pole-sitter Russell before securing a commanding victory at his home Grand Prix.
It was a performance that will rank among the finest in Formula One history.
Karting began at age seven
The son of Elisabetta, who keeps a low public profile, and Marco, a former racing driver and team principal, Andrea Kimi Antonelli first took to karting at the age of seven. Surprisingly, his father was initially reluctant to see him pursue a career in motorsport.
“He didn’t want me to become a driver because motorsports can be very cruel at times, especially financially, since it’s very hard to succeed without the support of the right people,” Antonelli said ahead of the US Grand Prix.
“He taught me everything he knew, first about racing, and now about life. It’s really important to have him by my side during races.”
Mercedes spotted Antonelli’s potential when he was 11 and brought him into its junior driver programme under the guidance of Frenchman Gwen Lagrue. Lewis Hamilton also took on a mentoring role.
“He’s incredibly impressive and deserves to be world champion,” Hamilton said. The seven-time world champion’s own record could eventually come under threat from his young protégé.
Learning to handle the pressure
Antonelli made his name in karting, dominating the discipline in 2020 and 2021.
He went on to win the Italian and German Formula 4 championships in 2022 before claiming the Formula Regional title in 2023, competing in machinery equivalent to the F3 category.
He bypassed Formula 3 and moved directly into Formula 2 in 2024. Although he finished sixth in the championship, another major opportunity soon followed when Hamilton departed Mercedes for Ferrari, opening the door for Antonelli to step up to Formula One.
His rookie season had its share of difficult moments and on-track incidents, but he still secured second place in Sao Paulo and two further podium finishes, ending the championship seventh overall.
“I said from the start that he had tremendous talent and a great personality, but that he would need a season in F1 to grow and learn through both great moments and setbacks,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told AFP.
“He was catapulted into F1, and it wasn’t easy, even though he had always driven very well. He had to handle the pressure, the media, and the expectations.
“And it’s all the more satisfying to see just how good he’s been this year. It was a bit of a surprise that he performed at such a high level.”
After Antonelli became the second-youngest Formula One race winner with his maiden victory in China in March, Lagrue sent him an emotional message.
“It’s hard to put into words the feelings we experienced during the final laps of the Chinese Grand Prix, watching you attack every corner that brought you closer to your first F1 victory. Speed is one thing. Mental toughness is another. On Sunday, you demonstrated both.”
Away from the track, Antonelli’s cheerful personality, constant smiles and sense of humour have made him one of the paddock’s most popular figures.
Press conferences regularly turn into light-hearted exchanges, with fellow drivers often joining in the banter.
Peter Bonnington, his race engineer who previously worked with Hamilton, has reportedly lost count of the practical jokes Antonelli has played on him this season, including the cream pies the young Italian has thrown in his face.
Behind the laughter and playful personality, however, is a driver whose performances have earned him a place among Formula One’s champions.
