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Historic Coronation in Mexico
Kimi Antonelli became the sport's youngest ever champion at 20 years old, securing his debut title by finishing third at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico. Taking the crown in only his second year in Formula One, the Italian driver concluded a campaign featuring nine race victories. Antonelli joined race winner Max Verstappen and second-placed Lewis Hamilton on the podium as fellow competitors united in praise for the new champion.
Emotional Tribute to Grandfather
Standing alone at the front of the podium following the award ceremony, Antonelli was visibly moved as Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot played over the circuit public address system. The newly crowned champion later revealed that the aria held deep personal resonance as a song his grandfather always listened to. During his post-race media conference, Antonelli was overcome by tears while speaking about the tribute, drawing an encouraging round of applause from attendant journalists before adding that his grandfather would have felt immense pride.
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Bonnington Looks to the Future
Antonelli described the occasion as a special moment that would be remembered forever. His race engineer Peter Bonnington suggested this may well be the first of many, remarking that being on the journey with him was a pleasure and adding that it was "just the first chapter."
Norris Praises Dominant Campaign
Tributes from across the grand prix paddock were led by defending champion Lando Norris, who argued that Antonelli had not received sufficient credit for his achievements. Norris pointed out that the Italian had outperformed an established teammate who had spent four times longer in Formula One and had previously contested battles against Hamilton. Addressing suggestions that the title fight lacked competition, Norris asserted that Antonelli had simply dominated his rivals so comprehensively that he made a demanding year look easy, having "slapped his competition" through exceptional driving.
Verstappen Commends Sophomore Poise
Podium celebrations saw Verstappen and Hamilton hoist Antonelli onto their shoulders before the cheering crowd, with the four-time and seven-time champions offering warm praise. Verstappen highlighted how impressive it is to achieve such success in a second Formula One season. The Dutchman noted that for Antonelli to remain solid at his age, not make big mistakes, and beat an experienced teammate demonstrated incredible driving, expressing pride in how the youngster handled himself across the entire campaign.
Hamilton Recalls Junior Journey
Hamilton also reflected on Antonelli's progression, having first crossed paths with him when the youngster joined the Mercedes junior scheme at age 12. The British driver noted how wonderful it was to see someone advance from a child standing in the garage background to becoming his replacement at a team he loved and worked with for numerous years, praising Antonelli for delivering a faultless campaign throughout the season.
