Norris praises Antonelli after he becomes F1's youngest champion

Kimi Antonelli clinched the Formula 1 world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix with four races still to run. He finished third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton; at 20 years and 68 days old, he became F1’s youngest champion and the first Italian to win the drivers’ title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

After the race, Lando Norris said Antonelli had “made everyone else look silly”, crediting the Mercedes driver with working hard to understand his car and exploiting it better than anyone else. Norris also highlighted Antonelli’s record against a strong team-mate and the very few mistakes he believed the young driver had made in only his second Formula 1 season.

Verstappen called Antonelli’s season impressive given his age. Hamilton congratulated Antonelli and Mercedes, calling his status as F1’s youngest champion phenomenal and saying he was grateful to witness the moment. Charles Leclerc said the title was fully deserved and described the sight of Antonelli’s emotional parents beneath the podium as beautiful.

Oscar Piastri questioned whether Antonelli’s campaign had really been a title battle, describing it instead as a championship win and saying it had been tougher earlier on. He also credited Mercedes with giving Antonelli a car to deliver in and supporting him, while adding that Antonelli had delivered too.