On an afternoon charged with raw emotion and historic significance at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli stepped into motorsport immortality, and he did it with the admiration and respect of his peers.
A composed third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix proved more than enough to secure the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship, sealing the Italian prodigy’s first world title in only his second season in Formula 1.
While crossing the finish line on the top step is every driver's dream, securing the crown from P3 offered a poetic twist. Antonelli shared the Mexico City podium alongside race winner Max Verstappen and second-place finisher Lewis Hamilton—two titan figures of the modern era.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with drivers whose records he grew up watching created an iconic image for the history books, marking a symbolic passing of the torch.
What makes Antonelli’s lightning-fast ascent to the top so compelling is the overwhelming respect he has commanded across the paddock. From established multi-time world champions to his closest contemporaries, the grid united in paying tribute to a driver who has operated with maturity far beyond his years.
High praise from the titans
Sharing the podium offered Verstappen and Hamilton an up-close look at the newly minted champion. Having navigated the immense psychological pressure of championship campaigns themselves, both multi-title winners praised Antonelli’s remarkable composure and near-flawless execution throughout the year.
“I think to achieve this in your second year in F1 is always very impressive,” said Red Bull’s Verstappen, who took the race victory in Mexico.
“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, whom Antonelli directly succeeded at Mercedes, echoed those feelings while standing on the podium beside his former team.
“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.”
Outgoing champion Lando Norris was equally insistent that Antonelli receive full credit for mastering the 2026 machinery so rapidly.
“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.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who experienced the intense crucible of title fights in 2025, praised both driver and team for delivering under pressure.
“He's done an incredible job I think. 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.”
Envy replaced by respect
For seasoned veterans on the grid who have spent years searching for a title-winning opportunity, watching a 20-year-old seize the crown so quickly could naturally provoke envy.
Yet, the overwhelming sentiment across the pit lane was genuine admiration for how Antonelli maximized every single race weekend.
“I'm obviously very happy for him,” said Ferrari’s 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.”
Carlos Sainz, bringing over a decade of Formula 1 experience to his assessment, highlighted Antonelli's strategic execution over the course of the long campaign.
“I think completely deserved, and honestly, he's done a really, really good year. 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.
Read also: Champion Antonelli grateful for ‘moment that will live forever’
“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.”
Williams driver Alex Albon pointed out the young Italian’s race craft as the defining element of his success: “It's really impressive. 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.”
A benchmark for the next generation
Among the younger cohort of drivers, Antonelli’s rapid rise represents both a shared triumph for their generation and a benchmark to strive toward.
“Can't get any better than World Champion between the two best champions in the last era of F1,” remarked Franco Colapinto when reflecting on the Mexico City podium photo.
“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, who grew up racing alongside Antonelli in junior categories, seeing his peer lift the World Championship trophy serves as ultimate motivation for the future.
“We are very close on age,” said Bortoleto. “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.”
As the celebrations carry on from Mexico City into the final rounds of the season, Antonelli stands not only as Formula 1’s newest champion, but as a driver who has earned the genuine, unreserved respect of every competitor he shares the track with.
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