India, Nov. 2 -- Kimi Antonelli has gone from the most-watched young prospect in Formula 1 to its youngest world champion. The 20-year-old Italian secured the 2026 Drivers' Championship with four races to spare in the season after coming third in the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, November 1. Max Verstappen won ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but the real story was that the Mercedes driver's podium was enough to put the title beyond his rivals. Antonelli has now broken Sebastian Vettel's long-standing record, which was set in 2010 when the German won his first championship at 23 years and 134 days. He is also the first Italian to be Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait for the country.

The fact that An...