News Summary
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli burst into tears over the Mercedes team radio after securing his first Formula 1 world championship at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix.
- The 20-year-old Italian finished third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, becoming the youngest world champion in F1 history.
- Antonelli thanked Mercedes as he struggled to contain his emotions, ending Italy’s 73-year wait for a Drivers’ Championship.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was overcome with emotion after becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion at the age of 20 during Sunday’s (November 1) Mexico City Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver burst into tears over the team radio after crossing the finish line in third place, initially struggling to speak as the team celebrated his historic achievement.
After a mixture of crying and laughter, Antonelli finally managed to deliver a message to the people who had helped him reach the pinnacle of Formula 1.
“Thank you so much. We did it. We did it,” the Italian said over the Mercedes radio.
Antonelli struggles to speak as Mercedes celebrates historic title
Antonelli entered the Mexican Grand Prix needing only ninth place to guarantee the championship, regardless of the results of his rivals.
Starting fourth, the Italian navigated a race marked by incidents, changing strategies and a lengthy red-flag interruption following Valtteri Bottas’s accident.
He eventually finished third, 4.006s behind race winner Verstappen, with Hamilton taking second for Ferrari.
As Antonelli crossed the line, Mercedes confirmed that he had secured the Drivers’ Championship. The emotion immediately overwhelmed the Italian, whose first response over the radio was interrupted by tears.
The achievement made Antonelli the youngest champion in Formula 1 history, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010.
He also became the first Italian to win the Drivers’ Championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait.
Mercedes and family share Antonelli’s emotional moment
The championship represents a remarkable achievement for Antonelli in only his second full Formula 1 season.
After replacing Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, the Italian developed into the leading contender under the 2026 technical regulations, building a commanding championship advantage through nine Grand Prix victories before arriving in Mexico.
The title was secured in front of his family, who were present to witness the achievement.
Antonelli later acknowledged the importance of Mercedes and those closest to him in helping him reach the championship, while admitting that he was still processing the scale of the moment.
His emotional response contrasted with the tension he had experienced before the race.
Antonelli admitted feeling more nervous than usual during Mexican Grand Prix qualifying, when he qualified fifth before moving to fourth on the grid following Max Verstappen’s penalty.
The Italian leaves Mexico with 380 championship points, having established an unassailable advantage with four rounds remaining on the scheduled calendar.
The complete championship standings after Mexico show Verstappen moving into second place, ahead of Hamilton and George Russell.
Verstappen also praised the new champion after the race, describing Antonelli’s achievement at such a young age as extraordinary.
The Red Bull driver said he was proud to see Antonelli celebrating with Mercedes and his family.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
