Source : ABC NEWS
Kimi Antonelli has been crowned Formula 1 world champion, capping off a historic second season for the Italian in F1.
The Mercedes driver secured the title in Mexico on Monday, becoming the category’s youngest-ever world champion.
But Antonelli has done more than become the youngest-ever world champion, setting new benchmarks that are likely to stand for some time.
Here are the records Antonelli has broken in 2026 on his way to the world championship.
Youngest Formula 1 world champion
The crowning achievement of Antonelli’s 2026 season is the world title, making him the youngest-ever champion and smashing the record.
At 20 years, 68 days, Antonelli has shattered the previous mark set by Sebastian Vettel, 23 years, 133 days, by three years.
- Kimi Antonelli (2026) — 20 years, 68 days
- Sebastian Vettel (2010) — 23 years, 133 days
- Lewis Hamilton (2008) — 23 years, 300 days
- Fernando Alonso (2005) — 24 years, 7 days
- Max Verstappen (2021) — 24 years, 73 days
First driver born in the 21st century to become world champion
It is the sign of a new age.
Antonelli is the first F1 driver born in the 21st century to become world champion. He was born on August 25, 2006.
Last year’s champion, Lando Norris, was born in 1999.
Youngest driver to lead the F1 championship
Antonelli first took the lead of this year’s championship after the third round in Japan.
Kimi Antonelli beat Oscar Piastri for the win in Japan, claiming the lead of the F1 championship as a 19-year-old. (Getty Images: Clive Mason)
When the then-teenager took the chequered flag at Suzuka for his second win of the season, he surpassed Lewis Hamilton as the youngest driver to lead the the drivers’ championship.
Hamilton had held the record since his rookie season in 2007, when the then-McLaren driver moved into that year’s championship lead following the Spanish Grand Prix.
- Kimi Antonelli (Japan, 2026) — 19 years, 7 months, 4 days
- Lewis Hamilton (Spain, 2007) — 22 years, 4 months, 6 days
- Bruce McLaren (Argentina, 1960) — 22 years, 5 months, 8 days
- Sebastian Vettel (Abu Dhabi, 2010) —23 years, 4 months, 11 days
- Kimi Raikkonen (Malaysia, 2003) — 23 years, 5 months, 6 days
Youngest F1 pole sitter
Antonelli’s record-breaking 2026 began in round two, when he roared to pole for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The Italian produced a tremendous lap to pip teammate George Russell, who had, up to that point, won the Australian Grand Prix, the China sprint race, and qualified on pole for both events.
Antonelli was 19 years, 6 months, and 18 days old when he took pole in Shanghai, beating the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who claimed a shock maiden pole for Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008, aged 21 years, 2 months and 11 days.
- Kimi Antonelli (China, 2026) — 19 years, 6 months, 18 days
- Sebastian Vettel (Italy, 2008) — 21 years, 2 months, 11 days
- Charles Leclerc (Bahrain 2019) — 21 years, 5 months, 15 days
- Fernando Alonso (Malaysia, 2003) — 21 years, 7 months, 23 days
- Max Verstappen (Hungary 2019) — 21 years, 10 months, 5 days
Most wins by a teenager
There have only ever been two drivers to win a Formula 1 grand prix as a teenager.
Max Verstappen claimed his maiden victory in Spain in 2016 as an 18-year-old — still the youngest driver ever to win a grand prix.
Max Verstappen (left) and Kimi Antonelli (right) are the only two drivers to win an F1 grand prix as teenagers. (Getty Images: Formula 1/Bryn Lennon)
That was Verstappen’s only win as a teenager. Kimi Antonelli secured six wins this season before his 20th birthday, setting a new mark for most grand prix races won by a teenager.
- Kimi Antonelli — 6
- Max Verstappen — 1
Most wins by an Italian driver in a single season
Few nations have contributed more to Formula 1 than Italy. Ferrari is the sport’s most famous and successful team, and Monza is one of the world’s great racetracks.
But success for Italian drivers has been relatively rare.
Antonelli has become the third Italian to win the drivers’ championship, and the first since 1953. Antonelli’s nine wins so far this season are the most ever by an Italian driver in a single season, beating the previous mark of six set by Alberto Ascari during his 1952 championship season.
The 1952 season featured only eight races, and Ascari won the final six.
- Kimi Antonelli (2026) — 9
- Alberto Ascari (1952) — 6
- Alberto Ascari (1953) — 5
- Nino Farina (1950) — 3
- Michele Alboreto (1985), Riccardo Patrese (1991) — 2
