Kimi Antonelli: F1’s Youngest Champion By Three Years?

Driver in Black suit. (Credit: Formula One)

Kimi Antonelli can become the Formula One World Drivers Champion in Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix, and will become the youngest person to do so.

The Italian has put himself on the verge of winning the title at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez thanks to his nine wins and a further six podiums in the 18 races so far in 2026.

The chances of him taking the crown look good as it is up to him to finish only ninth.

Come the end of the 71 laps, he could not only be celebrating his maiden title, but also having eclipsed Sebastian Vettel’s 16-year long record as the youngest world champion in the 76 years of Formula One.

Antonelli can break the record by over three years, he will be 20 years and two months old on Sunday.

When Vettel won his first title at the 2010 season finale in Abu Dhabi, he was aged 23 years and four months old.

The current list of the youngest champions:

1. Sebastian Vettel – 23 years, 134 days – 2010
2. Lewis Hamilton – 23 years, 300 days – 2008
3. Fernando Alonso – 24 years, 58 days – 2005
4. Max Verstappen – 24 years, 73 days – 2021
5. Emerson Fittipaldi – 25 years, 273 days – 1972
6. Michael Schumacher – 25 years, 314 days – 1994
7. Lando Norris – 26 years, 24 days – 2025
8. Niki Lauda – 26 years, 197 days – 1975
9. Jacques Villenueve – 26 years, 200 days – 1997
10. Jim Clark – 27 years, 188 days – 1963

In all probability, the record will become Antonelli’s and is unlikely to be beaten soon.

The closest challengers he’s had this year have been 28-year-old George Russell, and 41-year-old Lewis Hamilton.

In fact, the only person currently on the Formula One grid who is younger than the champion in waiting is Arvid Lindblad, who is currently 19 and racing for midfield outfit Racing Bulls.