Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 World Champion

Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history after finishing third in the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday, which was won by Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), AFP reports.

Antonelli, who needed just two more points to secure the title, was crowned champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, finishing behind two former world champions, Verstappen and British driver Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

Antonelli succeeds British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) as Formula 1 world champion.

The Mexican Grand Prix was interrupted on lap 46 following a serious crash involving Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), who went off the track due to a mechanical problem.

As Antonelli was entering the pits to change tyres and Verstappen was leading the race, Bottas was braking for Turn 1 on the pit straight when his left-front suspension broke. His car spun out of control and hit the barriers heavily.

The Finnish driver took several minutes to exit the cockpit after the safety car was deployed and the red flag was shown. However, Bottas was able to get out of the car on his own and was taken to the medical centre for examination, Cadillac said.

At the time of the red flag, Verstappen was leading, followed by Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who had started from pole position but was overtaken early in the race by his teammate and Verstappen.

After a delay of more than 40 minutes, the race restarted for the final 25 laps.

Photo: Instagram/kimi.antonelli