By Fatma Younis
Italian driver Kimi Antonelli secured the Formula One world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, becoming the youngest champion in the sport's history at 20 years and 68 days old.
Record-breaking triumph
Antonelli needed only a ninth-place finish to clinch the title but drove with composure to finish third, making him the first Italian champion since 1953. The victory came with four rounds of the season still remaining.
Emotional celebrations
A tearful Antonelli shouted "we did it" over the radio before stopping his Mercedes in the middle of Foro Sol Stadium and embracing his parents and younger sister Maggie. Team principal Toto Wolff greeted him with a bear hug. "I would not be here without Mercedes or my family. I am speechless," Antonelli said, calling it a day he would remember forever.
Podium shared with legends
Race winner Max Verstappen and second-placed Lewis Hamilton, who hold 11 world titles between them, lifted the new champion onto their shoulders during the podium ceremony, symbolizing a passing of the torch.
Journey from junior ranks
Antonelli joined Mercedes as a 12-year-old and overcame a difficult debut season to dominate his second year. His father Marco, a former racing driver, thanked Mercedes for believing in his son, saying the title was the best possible thank-you for that faith.
