MEXICO CITY: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has become Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion at 20, securing the title after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, with four races remaining in the season.
Antonelli broke the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won his first world championship in 2010. His victory also makes him the first Italian to win the drivers’ title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Antonelli needed a top-nine finish in Mexico, or for his closest rivals to fail to win, to secure the championship. He achieved both.
His rise has followed an unusual path. Mercedes selected him in 2024 to replace Lewis Hamilton, who left the team for Ferrari. Antonelli made his Formula One debut at 18, despite criticism from former team owner Eddie Jordan, who questioned whether the teenager had enough experience for the role. His 2025 season included difficult races, particularly in Europe, but he recorded his first Grand Prix victory in China in March 2026. He has since won nine races this season, including his home Grand Prix at Monza.
The regulations governing entry into Formula One also form part of Antonelli’s story. Under Article A3.3.1 of the 2026 regulations, drivers must hold an FIA Super Licence. The 2024 edition of Appendix L set the standard minimum age at 18 and generally required applicants to earn 40 points through junior racing championships over three seasons. An exception introduced in June 2024 allowed the FIA to grant a licence to a 17-year-old who demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity. The provision became known in the media as the “Kimi Antonelli rule”, although Antonelli did not need it for his debut.
His championship also places renewed attention on the commercial side of Formula One. Liberty Media’s Formula One Group holds the commercial rights to the championship, while the sport’s audience has grown through Netflix’s Drive to Survive and Apple’s involvement in film and broadcasting. At 20, Antonelli has considerable time ahead of him in the sport, making his commercial value and future team arrangements significant. His current contract terms with Mercedes are private.
The FIA’s rules also cover driver discipline, contractual disputes and the commercial use of a driver’s identity. Its Contract Recognition Board, comprising independent lawyers based in Geneva, handles competing claims over driver contracts. The article cites the 2022 ruling in Oscar Piastri’s contract dispute with McLaren as an example of the board’s work. Antonelli, who joined Mercedes’ junior programme at 12, has said he would not rule out driving for Ferrari in the future.
