Mexico: Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli made Formula 1 history on Sunday by becoming the youngest world champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days, after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Antonelli secured his maiden Drivers' Championship with four races remaining in the season, breaking the record held by Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest champion at 23 in 2010.
He finished behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won the race, and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who took second place at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Antonelli had needed only a ninth-place finish to guarantee the title, irrespective of the results of his closest challengers, Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell. He converted his fourth-place starting position into a podium finish, sealing the championship with an unassailable lead.
His triumph also ended Italy's 73-year wait for a Formula 1 world champion. Antonelli is the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
The achievement follows a remarkable season for the young Mercedes driver, who surged ahead in the championship with five consecutive race victories. He had also won in Texas last week, taking his ninth victory of the season.
Antonelli's weekend in Mexico began with concerns over his fitness after he missed a media session on Thursday because of a viral infection. However, he finished second and fourth in Friday's two practice sessions, showing strong pace ahead of the race.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had topped both practice sessions, while Hamilton started Sunday's race from pole position. Verstappen, meanwhile, produced a strong drive to claim victory after starting fifth.
The race was interrupted by a red flag following a heavy crash involving Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas, whose car suffered a suspension failure. A late Safety Car was also deployed after a collision involving McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad.
Despite the interruptions, Antonelli maintained his position and crossed the finish line third, confirming his place in Formula 1 history.
Mercedes also remain in contention for the constructors' championship, which they last won in 2021.
(With agency inputs from AP via PTI)
