Domenicali says Antonelli's F1 legacy is only beginning

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has called Kimi Antonelli's 2026 world title the start of an “extraordinary legacy”, saying the 20-year-old's name now joins the sport's legends.

Antonelli clinched the drivers' championship with third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix. He became Formula 1's youngest world champion and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait for the country.

Mercedes signed Antonelli to its junior programme in 2019. He skipped Formula 3 to enter Formula 2 in 2024, then stepped into a Mercedes race seat in 2025. Domenicali said the new champion had captured the imagination of millions of fans and could inspire young people around the world.