Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, ending Italy’s 73-year wait for a champion. The 20-year-old Italian finished third in Mexico City to clinch his maiden title in only his second F1 season.
This achievement marks Antonelli as the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion. The last Italian to claim the title was Alberto Ascari, who won consecutive championships in 1952 and 1953.
Ascari was Ferrari’s first World Champion and remains their only Italian champion, known for his precise driving style. Antonelli’s success with the Mercedes-AMG F1 W17 E Performance car highlights a strategic development approach by the team.
Mercedes, led by Technical Director James Allison, adopted an unconventional development philosophy for the W17. The team focused on launching a relatively mature car, delaying its final specification to maximise initial competitiveness.
This strategy meant less continuous in-season upgrades compared to rivals, who introduced a steady stream of developments. Mercedes aimed to establish a clear advantage, particularly with its power unit, before extensive chassis and aerodynamic refinements.
The W17’s power unit, the Mercedes-AMG F1 M17 E Performance, proved a significant strength. It featured a near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power, with approximately 350kW from the MGU-K.
The car also incorporated active aerodynamics with moveable front and rear wings, a key feature of the 2026 regulations. Mercedes retained pushrod front suspension, a design choice common among teams for weight savings in the lighter 2026 cars.
Aerodynamically, the W17 combined efficiency with a balanced downforce distribution. Its floor design remained largely unchanged for much of the season, indicating a highly refined initial concept.
Antonelli’s ability to exploit the W17’s characteristics was central to his title. He developed an unconventional driving style, adept at managing the power unit’s electrical energy deployment.
This adaptability and consistent performance allowed him to extract maximum potential from the car. Antonelli worked closely with race engineer Peter Bonnington throughout the season.
The W17’s demanding nature also highlighted limitations for teammate George Russell. Russell, initially the favourite for the title, experienced a challenging season marked by inconsistency and technical issues.
Russell suffered an engine failure in Canada and a timing system fault in Monaco, leading to pit lane speeding penalties. He also encountered power unit failures, including at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Since a major upgrade package introduced in Malaysia, Russell did not qualify higher than sixth or outperform Antonelli. At the United States Grand Prix, Russell qualified over four tenths behind Antonelli and finished eighth.
The W17 proved challenging to adapt to, possessing a narrow operational window. Russell even pushed Mercedes to compare old and new specifications before the Singapore Grand Prix.
In Singapore, Russell ran the older specification while Antonelli used the updated package to gather data. The FIA inspected Russell’s W17 after the US Grand Prix, finding it compliant with regulations.
Antonelli’s championship campaign began with a practice crash in Australia but he recovered to finish second. His maiden victory came at the Chinese Grand Prix, followed by a five-race winning streak.
He secured nine Grand Prix victories in 2026, including wins in Japan, Miami, Monaco, Belgium, and the United States. Antonelli also won his home Grand Prix in Italy, starting from 19th on the grid.
His consistent performance and ability to manage the car’s specific demands were key. The Mercedes W17 provided a strong technical platform, which Antonelli mastered to secure the world championship.
