Sebastian Vettel has indicated he would be content to relinquish his long-standing record as Formula 1’s youngest world champion. The four-time title winner stated he would be “very happy” if Kimi Antonelli, currently leading the 2026 season, were to surpass his achievement.
Vettel secured his first championship in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days, establishing the benchmark for the sport’s youngest title winner. Antonelli, born on August 25, 2006, would need to claim the F1 title before January 5, 2030, to break this record.
Should Antonelli clinch the 2026 championship, with the season finale currently slated for December 6 in Abu Dhabi, he would be 20 years, 3 months, and 12 days old. This places him well within the timeframe to potentially reset Vettel’s record.
“I’d be very happy for him. He’s had an incredible year, and there’s the old phrase that records are there to be broken. Whoever will win will deserve it.”
Vettel, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season, expressed his admiration for Antonelli’s performance. He noted that Antonelli still has many years ahead to achieve such milestones.
In separate developments, Charles Leclerc recently provided an update following a significant incident at the Italian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver confirmed via social media that he was “okay” after a heavy crash during the event.
Leclerc’s incident occurred at Monza, a circuit where Ferrari had introduced an engine upgrade as part of their 2026 ‘ADUO’ (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) allowance. The team aimed to improve power output, a known weak point compared to competitors.
Earlier this season, Leclerc secured a victory at the British Grand Prix. He has also achieved multiple podium finishes during the current 2026 campaign. Leclerc is currently second in Ferrari’s all-time Formula 1 starts, behind Michael Schumacher.
The Monegasque driver has articulated his ambition to be remembered as a world champion for Ferrari. He has adopted a race-by-race approach for the remainder of the 2026 season, focusing on maximising each Grand Prix weekend.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has also emphasised a cautious strategy, not allowing the championship objective to dominate the team’s immediate thinking. The focus remains on consistent performance and ongoing technical development of the SF-26.
The upcoming Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new MADRING street circuit, scheduled for September 11-13, will be the 14th round of the 2026 season. Ferrari will continue to evaluate their latest power unit specification at this event.
