Edward Marchesi Over the weekend in Mexico, the Mercedes team stunned the world: 20-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli climbed onto the podium in third place, but it was above all the prospect of a world title that thrilled the whole of Italy. The last time an Italian driver had lifted the Formula 1 trophy on the second step was in 1953, when Alberto Ascari won for Ferrari.
Now, 73 years later, Antonelli has once again turned on the Italian spotlight, transforming the hope of a return to the top of the world into a tangible reality.
A historic triumph: the World Cup returns to Italy after 73 years.
The young driver, born on August 25, 2006, has accumulated a series of advantages that place him in a commanding position in the fight for the 2026 title.
With a 123-point lead over George Russell and 124 points over Lewis Hamilton , his march to the world championship seems almost inevitable: two more points are enough to seal the championship, or even no points at all, since no British result would preclude him from victory. The result in Mexico has also reignited the fervor of a nation that for decades has waited to see an Italian triumph again in the top motorsport series.
Broken records and prospects of victory
Antonelli's resume is studded with impressive numbers. In his debut Formula 1 season (2025), he finished seventh in the drivers' standings, behind champion Lando Norris. The following year, at just 18 years and 224 days old, he set the fastest lap of the Japanese Grand Prix with a time of 1:30.965 , becoming the youngest ever to achieve such a feat. In 2026, he then achieved the youngest-ever pole position in China and led the drivers' standings for the first time in Tokyo, aged 19 years and 9 months.
The youngest Grand Chelem in history
The most sensational result was the Grand Chelem achieved in the same weekend: pole position, victory, fastest lap, and lead from start to finish. At 19 years and 9 months, Antonelli surpassed Max Verstappen 's previous record , demonstrating unusual maturity for his age. No other driver had ever collected the first two consecutive victories in his career, an achievement that cemented his reputation as a sporting phenomenon.
His journey to the top began in 2019, when Mercedes included him in its young talent program . After titles in Formula 4 and Formula Regional , Antonelli jumped directly to Formula 2 , avoiding the traditional step into Formula 3. Toto Wolff, boss of the German team, chose him in 2025 to replace seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton , thus giving him the role of teammate to then- George Russell . This choice rewarded his early demonstration of talent and accelerated his rise to the top.
Off the track, Antonelli has shown unusual versatility: he made a cameo appearance in the film Italian Race , directed by Marco Rovere and starring Stefano Accorsi. His father, Marco Antonelli, a former racing driver, instilled a passion for speed in the youngster, nurturing the legend of Ayrton Senna . With his performances, the 20-year-old could become the youngest champion in history, beating Sebastian Vettel 's record (23 years, 4 months, and 11 days). His current campaign sees him just a few points away from the title, but his ability to break age barriers and rewrite sporting history gives him a significant psychological advantage.