Kimi Antonelli Nears F1 Title at 20 in Just His 2nd Season
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Oct 20
Kimi Antonelli Nears F1 Title at 20 in Just His 2nd Season
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Oct 20
Summary
20-year-old Kimi Antonelli can first clinch the Formula 1 drivers' championship at the Oct. 26 U.S. Grand Prix, with his points lead making him the overwhelming favorite to become the sport's youngest world champion.
Mercedes' sophomore driver built that cushion with a breakout 2026 campaign—winning in China, then four straight in Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco, before later victories in Belgium, Italy and Spain.
Monza turned him into a national phenomenon in Italy: Antonelli won from 19th on the grid in September, delivering the first Italian victory in the Italian Grand Prix since 1966.
Antonelli said he is coping with the title run by sticking to routines away from the paddock—hand-washing his Mercedes road car, seeing school friends, and retreating to San Marino to preserve some privacy.
The surge marks a sharp turnaround from his error-strewn 2025 rookie season, vindicating Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's decision to put the teenager in Lewis Hamilton's old seat.