The Mexico City Grand Prix saw Kimi Antonelli finish third, which was more than enough for the Italian to seal the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship.
Significantly he had the opportunity to share the podium with race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, two of the all-time greats, creating a photo opportunity for the ages.
Of course the top step rather than P3 would have been the ideal scenario, but joining those legends as his celebrations got underway was something special for the youngster.
One of the remarkable aspects of Antonelli’s progress towards the title is that he has generated such huge respect from colleagues and rivals on the grid, even those whose own win records he can currently only aspire to.
Verstappen and Hamilton know what it takes to put together a championship-winning season, and both recognise Antonelli’s special talent.
“I think to achieve this in your second year in F1 is always very impressive,” Verstappen said. “Because, of course, at his age as well, to be so solid, not make big mistakes, and of course, also beat your experienced team mate, he’s just driven incredible.
“And I’m very proud of him, how he has handled himself this whole season. It’s not always easy to deliver every single weekend, but he has done that, and he’s the deserved champion this year.”
Hamilton added: “I mean, it was beautiful to be up there with these two and to be up there with Kimi for his first World Championship. I think it was a very special moment, one of the most special moments that I remember having here.”
Lando Norris, the man Antonelli follows as World Champion, was equally supportive – and after the Grand Prix he was keen to ensure that the Italian’s achievement is properly acknowledged.
“Unbelievable,” said the McLaren driver. “I think what he’s done is he’s blown everyone away. I hope everyone gives him enough credit for what he’s achieved this year, because he’s made everyone else look silly, he’s driven that well, and he’s been able to click with his car. He’s worked hard to understand how to drive this car, and he’s exploited it better than anyone else. So he deserves every single bit of success.
“He’s had an unbelievable year, and it’s even more impressive that it’s only his second season in F1. He’s 20 years old, it’s incredible. So I’m very happy for him, very, very happy for him. And I’m very happy to see my number one go over to him, because he deserves it. So in a way, happy to see it go.”
Norris’ team mate Oscar Piastri understands the pressures involved in chasing the World Championship title, although as he noted in the end it wasn’t as close a battle as the one he was involved with in 2025.
“He’s done an incredible job I think,” said the Australian. “In his second season in F1 to accomplish what he’s accomplished this year is very, very impressive. And clearly Mercedes have done a good job around him, giving him the car to deliver, supporting him, and he’s done the business as well, so a very impressive season.”
Some of the drivers who have been around for a while and are still searching for that elusive title-winning recipe could be forgiven for being a little envious about success coming so soon, but they all recognise what the Italian has acheived.
“I’m obviously very happy for him,” said Charles Leclerc. “I consider myself young, but when I look at him, he’s even younger. And to see his parents underneath the podium being so emotional is a beautiful image. So I’m very, very happy for him.
“I was trying to wait for him after the chequered flag, but I guess he was going very slow to celebrate as he should, and I’ll go and see him later. But it’s fully deserved. I mean, he didn’t put a step wrong since the beginning of the end.”
“I think completely deserved, and honestly, he’s done a really, really good year,” said Carlos Sainz, a driver with more than a decade in the sport behind him. “He’s known how to maximise his chance of becoming World Champion [in] his second year in F1.
“A lot of us would have wished to have such a competitive car in our first years in F1, and he did exactly that. He was given the opportunity to win a championship, and the year that it’s given to him, he maximised everything.
“He did a perfect first half of the year, dominated, and then controlled the second part of the year, which is what a World Champion has to do, and I think he did it really, really well.”
Sainz’s team mate Alex Albon is another experienced driver who admires what Antonelli has done this season.
“It’s really impressive,” said the Williams driver. “I think also his mentality, at least from the outside he looked very relaxed. I heard some comments in qualifying that he was a bit tense.
“If anything, his race pace has been really impressive – so I think what’s kind of separated him from the rest of the grid this year is his race pace, and of course, most probably partly car as well. But it’s been really impressive to see the step he’s made from last year.”
Those a little closer in age to Antonelli are just as pleased to see him win and fly the flag for the younger generation.
“Can’t get any better than World Champion between the two best champions in the last era of F1,” said Franco Colapinto of the Mexico City podium.
“He deserves it. He needs to enjoy it. I think it’s the dream of all of us, what he had this year. The speed, we all knew that he had it, but I think the consistency that he showed this year, race after race, being on the podium and scoring the points and not making mistakes – it’s been extremely impressive to have that weight in your shoulders of being P1 in the championship for so long from the start to the end.”
For Gabriel Bortoleto, Antonelli’s success is a source of inspiration.
“We are very close on age,” said the Brazilian. “He’s a bit younger than I am. I’ve fought for championships in F2 and F3, and I know how tense you are when you are fighting. But imagine fighting for a F1 championship against, I don’t know, Russell, Max, Lewis, all these World Champions [with] so much experience – and the guy didn’t break. He was always there, consistent, boom, on top.
“So an impressive job from him. And again, I hope to be fighting for titles with him in the future, because that would be a beautiful story, a guy I know since I’m like 10 years old, 11 years old, to F1, and now he’s World Champion – and I’m trying to reach that game.”
