Kimi Antonelli has secured his first Formula 1 world title with third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver reached the top in only his second year in Formula 1, delivering a landmark result for Italian motorsport.

Antonelli is Italy’s first Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and he is also the youngest driver to win the championship. His connection with the VR46 Riders Academy has continued alongside his single-seater career. Since moving into Formula 1, he has trained and raced at Valentino Rossi’s ranch in Tavullia.

Messages from the MotoGP world

Rossi congratulated the new champion in a video message shared by Formula 1. Marco Bezzecchi, Antonelli’s close friend and an Aprilia MotoGP rider, appeared in the same message, offering his congratulations and saying the achievement was fully deserved. VR46 Racing released a separate video in which Franco Morbidelli looked back on a wonderful season that had brought joy and inspired fans.

Fabio Di Giannantonio focused on the pressure Antonelli had managed during 2026 at only 20 years of age, calling the title a major source of inspiration. The relationship with VR46 also has a notable timeline: when Antonelli was born in August 2006, Rossi had already won five MotoGP world titles.

Antonelli’s championship campaign was not yet complete. Four races remained in 2026, starting with Brazil and continuing with the planned triple-header in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Uncertainty surrounding racing in the Middle East could change the closing schedule, with Imola in early December a possible venue for the end of the season.