Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest Formula One world champion at the age of 20. Antonelli secured the title after finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.The Italian driver broke down in tears of joy over the team radio as he crossed the finish line. His lead in the championship standings has now reached an unbeatable 119 points.The race at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was stopped by a red flag before being restarted.
Antonelli becomes first Italian champion since 1953
Antonelli also became the first Italian driver to win the Formula One world championship since 1953.Despite missing out on the race victory, his third-place finish was enough to seal the title and put his name in the history books.
Dramatic race in Mexico City
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton started the race from pole position and finished second, just behind Verstappen.The race was full of drama, with two safety cars and several crashes. The action was also interrupted by a 33-minute stoppage after a red flag with 25 of the 71 laps still remaining.List of Formula One world champions after Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli won his first title in Mexico City on Sunday:
Formula One world champions (1950-2026)
| Year | World champion | Country | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kimi Antonelli | Italy | Mercedes |
| 2025 | Lando Norris | Britain | McLaren |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Netherlands | Red Bull |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Netherlands | Red Bull |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Netherlands | Red Bull |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | Netherlands | Red Bull |
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2016 | Nico Rosberg | Germany | Mercedes |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | Mercedes |
| 2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Germany | Red Bull |
| 2012 | Sebastian Vettel | Germany | Red Bull |
| 2011 | Sebastian Vettel | Germany | Red Bull |
| 2010 | Sebastian Vettel | Germany | Red Bull |
| 2009 | Jenson Button | Britain | Brawn |
| 2008 | Lewis Hamilton | Britain | McLaren |
| 2007 | Kimi Raikkonen | Finland | Ferrari |
| 2006 | Fernando Alonso | Spain | Renault |
| 2005 | Fernando Alonso | Spain | Renault |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari |
| 2003 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari |
| 2002 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari |
| 2001 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari |
| 2000 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari |
| 1999 | Mika Hakkinen | Finland | McLaren |
| 1998 | Mika Hakkinen | Finland | McLaren |
| 1997 | Jacques Villeneuve | Canada | Williams |
| 1996 | Damon Hill | Britain | Williams |
| 1995 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Benetton |
| 1994 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Benetton |
| 1993 | Alain Prost | France | Williams |
| 1992 | Nigel Mansell | Britain | Williams |
| 1991 | Ayrton Senna | Brazil | McLaren |
| 1990 | Ayrton Senna | Brazil | McLaren |
| 1989 | Alain Prost | France | McLaren |
| 1988 | Ayrton Senna | Brazil | McLaren |
| 1987 | Nelson Piquet | Brazil | Williams |
| 1986 | Alain Prost | France | McLaren |
| 1985 | Alain Prost | France | McLaren |
| 1984 | Niki Lauda | Austria | McLaren |
| 1983 | Nelson Piquet | Brazil | Brabham |
| 1982 | Keke Rosberg | Finland | Williams |
| 1981 | Nelson Piquet | Brazil | Brabham |
| 1980 | Alan Jones | Australia | Williams |
| 1979 | Jody Scheckter | South Africa | Ferrari |
| 1978 | Mario Andretti | USA | Lotus |
| 1977 | Niki Lauda | Austria | Ferrari |
| 1976 | James Hunt | Britain | McLaren |
| 1975 | Niki Lauda | Austria | Ferrari |
| 1974 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Brazil | McLaren |
| 1973 | Jackie Stewart | Britain | Tyrrell |
| 1972 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Brazil | Lotus |
| 1971 | Jackie Stewart | Britain | Tyrrell |
| 1970 | Jochen Rindt | Austria | Lotus |
| 1969 | Jackie Stewart | Britain | Matra |
| 1968 | Graham Hill | Britain | Lotus |
| 1967 | Denny Hulme | New Zealand | Brabham |
| 1966 | Jack Brabham | Australia | Brabham |
| 1965 | Jim Clark | Britain | Lotus |
| 1964 | John Surtees | Britain | Ferrari |
| 1963 | Jim Clark | Britain | Lotus |
| 1962 | Graham Hill | Britain | BRM |
| 1961 | Phil Hill | USA | Ferrari |
| 1960 | Jack Brabham | Australia | Cooper |
| 1959 | Jack Brabham | Australia | Cooper |
| 1958 | Mike Hawthorn | Britain | Ferrari |
| 1957 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Argentina | Maserati |
| 1956 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Argentina | Lancia/Ferrari |
| 1955 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Argentina | Mercedes |
| 1954 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Argentina | Mercedes/Maserati |
| 1953 | Alberto Ascari | Italy | Ferrari |
| 1952 | Alberto Ascari | Italy | Ferrari |
| 1951 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Argentina | Alfa Romeo |
| 1950 | Giuseppe Farina | Italy | Alfa Romeo |
Multiple-time world champions
| Titles | Drivers |
|---|---|
| 7 | Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio |
| 4 | Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen |
| 3 | Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso, Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Hakkinen, Graham Hill |
World champions by country
| No. of titles | Country |
|---|---|
| 11 | Britain |
| 3 | Brazil, Finland, Germany, Italy |
| 2 | Australia, Austria, United States |
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