Third place in Mexico is enough: Antonelli becomes Formula 1 champion at twenty as Verstappen wins the race
The Mercedes driver breaks Sebastian Vettel's age record in a turbulent Grand Prix with penalties, a red flag and a Ferrari pair getting in each other's way.
Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1 world champion in Mexico City on Sunday. The Mercedes driver from Italy needed only ninth place, but finished third behind race winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), the Formula 1 website reports. At 20 years and 68 days, he is the youngest champion in the sport's history, RTBF writes. The previous record belonged to Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won his first title in 2010. According to Sporza, it was already Antonelli's sixteenth podium finish of the season.
From the start, the race revolved around the Ferraris. Hamilton started from his first pole position for Ferrari, but teammate Charles Leclerc went across the grass to take the lead and was given a five-second penalty, the Formula 1 website reports. Hamilton complained about it over team radio. Verstappen used the Ferrari battle to move forward. George Russell tipped Isack Hadjar into a spin on the opening lap and received a ten-second penalty. Midway through the race Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily, after which the race was halted to repair the barriers. After a late safety car, Verstappen held off Hamilton at the restart, with the Briton crossing the line less than a second behind.
Leclerc finished fourth, Lando Norris fifth and Russell sixth, according to Sporza. Oscar Piastri was handed a ten-second penalty after the race for a collision with Arvid Lindblad and dropped from seventh to fifteenth, RacingNews365 reports. Antonelli said beforehand that he was more nervous than usual, according to Sporza. After the finish he thanked his team and said he would not be where he is without them, the Formula 1 website reports.
In the championship, Antonelli now has 380 points, ahead of Verstappen (261), Hamilton (259), Russell (250) and Leclerc (245), according to GPblog. Four Grands Prix remain, so the fight is now mainly for second place. The next race is in Brazil on Sunday 8 November, Sporza reports.