Youngest F1 world champions: How Kimi Antonelli’s record-breaking title compares to Lewis Hamilton, other drivers

Youngest F1 world champions: How Kimi Antonelli’s record-breaking title compares to Lewis Hamilton, other drivers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Youth is the name of the game right now in Formula 1 racing.

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Italy’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the F1 world title at just 20 years old, and it wasn’t particularly close — he had a chance to win as early as the United States Grand Prix, where he walked away with a 123-point lead in the standings and only 125 remaining overall.

At his age, Antonelli is a history-maker for more reasons than one.

Here’s a look at where he ranks among the youngest F1 world champions.

MORE:Complete 2026 Formula 1 standings

Youngest F1 world champions

Antonelli is the youngest Formula 1 world champion by a wide margin after claiming the title at just 20 years old:

Before Antonelli, the youngest F1 world champion was Sebastian Vettel, who won at 23 in 2010 and again at 24 in 2011. Lewis Hamilton held the record for two years before Vettel won at the same age, albeit a few months younger.

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There have only been five F1 champions under the age of 25, with Vettel doing it twice. Antonelli will have four more bites at the apple: he will go into his age-21 season as a contender again, and he will have three more years after 2027 to try and win again before turning 25.

Antonelli left no doubt, either, winning five consecutive races early in the season before adding victories in Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United States. For George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, the battle is now for second place in the standings and perhaps has been for some time.

Here’s how wide the gap in the standings was after Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix: