How Antonelli 'blew everyone away' to make Formula 1 history — SkimNews
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- Kimi Antonelli won the Formula 1 world championship in his second season, becoming the youngest titleholder in the sport's history at age 20.
- Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both praised Antonelli as 'incredible,' acknowledging his achievement while sharing the podium with him in Mexico City.
- Antonelli overcame a shaky debut season in 2025, where he was outperformed by teammate George Russell, to win five consecutive races early in the 2026 season and maintain consistent dominance.
- Damon Hill stated he sees no limit to Antonelli's potential, predicting continued improvement despite future challenges, while noting his talent is now unquestionable.
- Lando Norris, the outgoing champion, said Antonelli 'blew everyone away' and has driven better than expected, crediting his car control, hard work, and ability to outperform top rivals in competitive machinery.
- Antonelli admitted the pressure of the moment affected his qualifying in Mexico, but said the emotional weight of the achievement — including memories of his late grandfather — overwhelmed him on the final lap.
Why it matters: Mercedes' decision to promote Antonelli over Russell for the 2025 season now appears decisively validated, reshaping internal team dynamics and driver legacies; Antonelli’s title, achieved through consistency and development rather than car advantage alone, redefines expectations for rookie-to-champion progression timelines in modern F1.
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