Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest-ever Formula One drivers' champion at 20 years and 68 days, clinching the title with a third-place finish in Mexico City on Sunday.
The Italian arrived in Mexico needing only to finish ninth or better to secure the championship with four races to spare. His podium result made him the first Italian champion of the sport since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Antonelli's Emotional Reaction
Speaking after the race, Antonelli expressed his gratitude and disbelief at the achievement.
"We did it, we did it. I wouldn't be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I'm very grateful for this moment and it's one that will live forever," he said. "I'm speechless. I'm trying to process what has just happened."
Tributes from Rivals and Mentors
Lando Norris, whom Antonelli succeeds as world champion, praised the young driver's performance throughout the season.
"He's done an insane job. I feel like people are not giving him enough credit for what he has achieved this year," Norris said. "He has beaten his team-mate (George Russell) who has been in the sport for four or five times longer than him. Who is also very good and took the battle to Lewis (Hamilton, at Mercedes)."
Norris added: "I think people say 'he has not had much competition'. That's because he has slapped his competition! He's made it look too easy, like an easy year. If you can make anything look easy nowadays you've done an unbelievable job."
A Historic Rise at Mercedes
Antonelli, then 18, was chosen to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, having joined the team as a 12-year-old. Hamilton, who watched the Italian's development, expressed pride in his successor.
"I think for me, to see a youngster such as Kimi come through from being the little kid standing in the back of the garage, to replacing me at a team that I've loved and worked for many, many years and then this year where he's just been faultless throughout, I think it's really, really great to see," Hamilton said. "Records are there to be broken, you know. What he's been able to do at such a young age. He's just got such a bright future ahead of him. So, I'm grateful that I can be racing in the time to see it."
