MEXICO CITY — Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion and Italy’s first since 1953 when he finished third behind multiple champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in thrilling and crash-hit Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Italian drove his Mercedes to a 16th podium finish of the season with a blend of audacity and professionalism that belied his age in a hotly contested race of two safety cars and a red flag stoppage.
“Thank you so much, we did it,” he said tearfully on the team radio on his slow-down lap as his esteemed race engineer Peter Bonnington told him it was “a pleasure to be on the journey with you, but it’s just the first chapter”.
Antonelli soon regained his composure and after thanking his family and Mercedes he added: “We did it. I am so grateful for this moment – and it is one I will live forever. I’m speechless, just trying to process what has happened.
“It’s been an incredible season and to share the podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. I felt more tense this weekend, but I am so happy we got it done,” he added according to AFP.
At 20 years and 68 days old, he became the youngest champion by more than three years to four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and Italy’s first since Alberto Ascari of Ferrari in 1953.
In a two-part race, divided by a 45-minute pause when Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily in his Cadillac, Red Bull’s four-time champion came home 0.799 seconds ahead of seven-time champion Hamilton’s Ferrari with Antonelli third 3.207 seconds adrift.
It was Verstappen’s record-extending sixth win in Mexico, his third this year and the 74th of his career.
Charles Leclerc was fourth in the second Ferrari, after sparking race-long ill-feeling in his team with an opening lap tangle with team-mate Hamilton, who started on pole.
“I think we had the pace to win, but it wasn’t meant to be and we’ll take it offline and figure out what we can do in the background,” said a visibly irritated Hamilton.
“We have to hold some serious talks behind the scenes.”
