Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One world champion in history after finishing third in the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver sealed the title at 20 years and 68 days, over three years younger than Sebastian Vettel when he won in 2010.
Antonelli also became the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
“We did it. I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family,” an emotional Antonelli told reporters. “I am very grateful for this moment.”
Max Verstappen won the race, but Antonelli only needed a top-nine finish to clinch the crown.
The race was halted after 46 of 71 laps when Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas suffered a front-left suspension failure, sending his car backwards into the barriers. The 37-year-old walked away waving to the crowd.
Antonelli was running third behind Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the stoppage. His title rival and Mercedes teammate George Russell had already fallen from second to fifth at the start with power issues and needed to win to stay alive.
Lewis Hamilton, who started on pole, passed Leclerc after the restart and finished the race in second place.
