Kimi Antonelli, 20, seals the F1 crown with third in Mexico, and the grid's biggest names are lining up to praise the Italian.
Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1 world champion. The Italian clinched his first title with third place at the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest champion the sport has ever seen at just 20 years old.
Max Verstappen won the race in Mexico and Lewis Hamilton took second, so Antonelli celebrated on a podium shared with two of the most decorated names in racing. For a driver in only his second season in F1, that is quite a stage for a coronation.
His campaign has been remarkable, with nine victories along the way. Winning that often so early in a career is rare, and it turned a promising rookie story into a title charge that his rivals could not stop.
The paddock has been generous in its response. Drivers from across the grid have called the achievement incredible, with Lando Norris saying Antonelli is not getting enough credit for what he has done. Coming from a fellow title contender, that is high praise.
At 20, Antonelli has already reached the summit of the sport. The question now is how many more crowns he can add.
