Kimi Antonelli can make F1 history in Texas as the youngest-ever champion. Here’s how.
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- Kimi Antonelli, a 20-year-old Mercedes driver, is poised to become the youngest Formula 1 world champion at the United States Grand Prix in Texas if he wins the race and key rivals finish poorly.
- Antonelli leads the 2026 F1 season by 102 points and needs to extend his lead to 125 points this weekend to clinch the title mathematically with six races remaining.
- Fellow drivers and experts praise Antonelli’s rapid improvement and dominance this season, outshining his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who started the year as the favorite but has faced both bad luck and performance issues.
- Antonelli’s potential record-breaking achievement would surpass Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 youngest champion record, marking a significant milestone in F1 history.
- Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli’s predecessor at Mercedes and seven-time world champion, commended Antonelli’s talent and composure, expressing confidence in his deserving status as champion.
