MEXICO CITY, Nov 2 — 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 yesterday’s 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.
