Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – History is now reality. Kimi Antonelli is the Formula 1 world champion thanks to his third-place finish in the Mexican GP, and he couldn't contain his emotion at the finish line, after a careful and considered race, completed without taking any risks. As a world champion, indeed: "We did it. Thank you all," were his words at the finish line, on his first team radio as a world champion.
Kimi spoke like this after securing the title, in the post-race interview: “Without Mercedes and my family, I wouldn't be here. Thanks also to my friends. I'll cherish this moment forever. I'm speechless, but I'll enjoy every second. I'm starting to realize. Me on the podium with Verstappen and Hamilton? That makes everything more special, incredible.
This weekend I felt a bit tense, but now I'm really happy. Thank you all." The 20-year-old from Bologna is the youngest winner of the Formula 1 World Championship, as well as the first born in the 2000s. The records don't end there, however, because to find the last Italian world champion driver you have to go back to 1953: that year it was Alberto Ascari who won the title, his second consecutive, with Ferrari.
After him—and before Kimi—no other Italian had achieved the feat. Antonelli explained that the conviction that he could achieve victory came very early: "When did I realize it was possible? Very quickly, the car was immediately competitive. Now we'll continue to push to take Italy to the top."
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