Antonelli youngest F1 champ as Verstappen wins Mexico — SkimNews
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- Kimi Antonelli clinched his first F1 world championship at 20 years and 68 days old, finishing third in Mexico and breaking Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest champion by three years and 66 days
- Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, capitalizing on Ferrari's first-lap incident and internal conflict to take his third victory in four races
- Charles Leclerc took the lead from Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap after cutting the chicane, received a five-second penalty, and later struggled with a flat-spotted tyre after a post-red-flag lock-up
- Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over losing a potential win due to Leclerc's aggressive move, arguing the incident undermined Ferrari's chance at a one-two finish
- Antonelli remained calm through multiple safety cars and a red-flag restart, maintaining position in a tight three-car battle with Verstappen and Hamilton over the final seven laps
Why it matters: Antonelli’s title win with races to spare reshapes F1’s competitive narrative, making him the first Italian champion since 1953 while exposing Ferrari’s strategic fragility—Hamilton and Leclerc’s clash handed rivals both the race win and a psychological edge in team cohesion.
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