MEXICO CITY — Kimi Antonelli was crowned Formula 1 world champion on Sunday, securing the title with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix and leaving four races remaining in the season. At 20 years old, Antonelli became the youngest champion in history.
The Mercedes driver, promoted from the factory team to replace Lewis Hamilton earlier this year, claimed the championship with nine race wins in his second F1 season.
Team principal Toto Wolff used the post-race media session to critique the current state of the sport, arguing that the 'win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless' model of racing driver had died. Wolff stated that Antonelli’s success, achieved through humility, integrity, loyalty and respect, represented 'modern Formula 1'.
'Let me say one more word now that I have you all here, because I discussed it with someone else out there - with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] actually,' Wolff said. 'This notion of win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for your own benefit, that model of racing driver has died. We have a new champion that represents values like humility, like integrity, loyalty, respect, being himself. Should be a role model for many other young drivers in junior formulas. And should be a role model for the few entitled ones in Formula 1, the endless moaners on the radio, the ones that complain, the ones that crash.'
Wolff also advised Antonelli to focus on a long-term legacy. Recalling a comment by Lapo Elkann about his grandfather, Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli, Wolff told the new champion: 'You have 25 years to go because you’re going to drive longer than anybody else did before. And I want to look back in these many years and say, you stayed relevant all your life. It wasn’t a one-time wonder, but we all worked together in a way that we helped him to improve where he can improve, get him better.'
Wolff said he had discussed the remarks with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Antonelli’s victory marks a significant shift in the driver market dynamics, with Mercedes securing a young talent to lead the team forward.
