Antonelli Crowned Youngest F1 Champion as Verstappen Wins Wild Mexico Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history by finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver needed only a ninth-place finish to seal the title with four rounds remaining, and he delivered with a composed drive to third behind race winner Max Verstappen and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton. At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli eclipsed Sebastian Vettel's record as the sport's youngest champion, and he became Italy's first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The race itself was anything but straightforward. Verstappen took victory by just 0.799 seconds from Hamilton after a contest interrupted by a red flag and two safety-car periods. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc led early but lost the lead to Verstappen at the pit stops. Hamilton, who started from his record 105th pole position, pushed Verstappen hard in the closing laps but could not find a way through. Antonelli, sobbing with joy over the team radio at the finish, now holds an unassailable 119-point lead in the championship.