Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1's youngest World Champion at 20, clinching the 2026 title with a third-place finish in Mexico City. The Mercedes driver took the record from Sebastian Vettel in just his second season, and said Vettel's congratulatory message stood out among the flood of support. "It was very deep, with a lot of meaning behind it and a lot of advice for the future," Antonelli said. Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Lando Norris all reached out as well. Between celebrations, Antonelli spent time with the Senna family in Brazil—"something I will remember forever." Mercedes can wrap the constructors' championship this weekend at Interlagos, but Antonelli's focus is simple: win on a track he loves, in front of fans who've already embraced the sport's newest champion. Title secured; now he gets to hunt checkered flags without the pressure.
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