# Kimi Antonelli Nears Record as Youngest F1 Champion and First Italian in 73 Years > The 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli needs just two points at the Mexico Grand Prix to become the youngest Formula One world champion and the first Italian winner since 1953. - Publisher: Briefzora (https://briefzora.com) - URL: https://briefzora.com/kimi-antonelli-nears-record-as-youngest-f1-champion-and-first-italian-in-73-years - Published: 2026-10-30T19:04:17+05:00 - Author: Briefzora Desk (https://briefzora.com/author/briefzora-desk) - Section: Technology - Topics: F1, Mercedes - Image: https://briefzora.com/uploads/2026/10/how-kimi-antonelli-went-from-crying-as-a-rookie-to-brink-of-being-youn-6nmt4s.webp ## Key points - Kimi Antonelli needs two points at the Mexico Grand Prix to become the youngest F1 world champion. - He would be the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. - Antonelli leads the championship by 123 points with 125 points still available. - The 20-year-old won his first race at the Chinese Grand Prix and has nine wins this season. - Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised Antonelli's turnaround after a low-confidence spell at Spa. ## Why it matters Antonelli's potential title would reshape F1 history, affecting fans, sponsors and the sport's Italian following. ## Article Kimi Antonelli, 20, stands on the brink of history as he heads into the Mexico Grand Prix needing only two points to secure the youngest-ever Formula One world championship. A victory would also make him the first Italian driver to claim the title since Alberto Ascari won it in 1953 after his first triumph the previous year. Antonelli approaches Sunday's race already holding one hand on the prize; even a zero-point finish would suffice if teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton fail to win the podium. He leads the standings by 123 points, with a maximum of 125 still up for grabs. The season's first win came at the Chinese Grand Prix, where the youngster broke down in emotion on the podium, thanking his team for making the dream possible. His maiden victory, achieved in the second race of the year, followed a challenging rookie campaign. Antonelli joined Mercedes at the start of the 2025 season, replacing seven-time champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, and finished his debut year seventh in the drivers' table. Mid-season, confidence slipped after a poor qualifying performance at the Belgium Grand Prix in Spa, where he qualified 18th and admitted he was struggling to find confidence. Fifteen months later, the Italian boasts nine race wins for the season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the turnaround, noting critics had doubted Antonelli's place at Mercedes and even his place in Formula 1 after a points-less stretch. Wolff added that Antonelli still needs to finish the Mexico race, joking about a potential tequila or caipirinha celebration afterwards. In a Telegraph interview, Antonelli highlighted his Monza win as the most special, recalling his mother's early departure to San Marino for her sister's school. He described himself as not a party animal, saying he thinks twice before going out in summer because cameras are always watching. When out with friends, Antonelli says he is usually the designated driver and prefers water over alcohol, noting he enjoys the company without drinking. Off the circuit, the Italian remains obsessed with racing, now spending time with 1:8 scale radio-controlled cars, which he says serve as mental training. He also partakes in padel, water sports, bowling and cinema to unwind during busy periods. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many points does Kimi Antonelli need to win the championship? He needs just two points at the Mexico Grand Prix to secure the title. ### When was the last time an Italian won the F1 championship? Alberto Ascari was the previous Italian champion in 1953. --- When citing, please link to https://briefzora.com/kimi-antonelli-nears-record-as-youngest-f1-champion-and-first-italian-in-73-years and name Briefzora as the source.